TAAC standouts Butler, Miles III named first team All-Ohio

Kalon Butler of top-ranked Toledo Christian was chosen to the first team in Division IV, and Nate Miles III of fourth-ranked Emmanuel Christian was named to the first team in Division III, on the All-Ohio high school boys basketball teams released Wednesday by the Ohio High School Athletic Association.

Butler, a 6-foot-2 senior guard, averaged 18.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game during the regular season for the Eagles (21-1, 9-1), who were Toledo Area Athletic Conference outright champions, ranked No. 1 in the final Associated Press state poll, and advanced to the D-IV regional finals before ending at 26-2.

Miles, a 6-5 sophomore guard-forward, averaged 24.8 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 3.4 assists during the regular season for the TAAC-runner-up Warriors (19-3, 8-2). Emmanuel ended 22-4 with a loss to top-ranked Ottawa-Glandorf in a D-III regional semifinal, and Miles was named TAAC player of the year.

The All-Ohio teams were selected by a media panel representing the Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association.

Joining Miles in the Division III honors was his Emmanuel teammate Jalen Brown, a 6-2 senior guard (19.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.4 assists) who was picked to the All-Ohio second team.

Also chosen to the D-III second team was Archbold’s Cade Brenner, a 6-3 senior guard (20.2 points, 4.0 rebounds) who helped the 10th-ranked Blue Streaks earn a share of the Northwest Ohio Athletic League championship. Brenner was a two-time NWOAL player of the year.

Named to the Division IV third team was another TAAC player — Maumee Valley’s 6-3 senior guard CJ Majors (19.3 points, 10.5 rebounds, 3.7 assists), who helped the Hawks (18-8, 7-3) reached the D-IV district finals.

Sharing top individual honors in Division III as state co-players of the year were Ottawa-Glandorf’s 6-6 senior Colin White (24.9 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists), and Jesse McCulloch, a 6-10 senior (22.4 points) from repeat D-III state champion Cleveland Heights Lutheran East.

White, who has signed to play at Ohio State University, was named Ohio’s 2024 Mr. Basketball last week. In his final prep game last week, White had 32 points and 13 rebounds in the 61-59 loss to Canal Winchester Harvest Prep in the D-III state semifinals.

In Division IV, the state player of the year is 6-3 junior Quinn Kwasniak of Willoughby Cornerstone Christian, who averaged 33.9 points per game.