Meet Daily Jeffersonian's Top 20 male high school athletes of the last 25 years

It was a tough list that took a few months to compile.

The top male high school student athletes this century in the Daily Jeffersonian's coverage area is a deep and talented list from the four schools – Cambridge, Meadowbrook, Buckeye Trail and John Glenn.

To do this, we consulted longtime area coaches, former athletes and local media personalities to cross check and collect insight. It helped us fortify our own opinions.

To be eligible, athletes must not have graduated earlier than 2001, which means the fall season of 2000 got the ball rolling.

Emphasis was placed on individuals who earned Division I scholarships, excelled in multiple sports and won state championships. They weren’t the end-all, be-all factors, however.

Most importantly, the “eye test” still carried plenty of weight. Some players you simply don’t need statistics or postseason awards to know they belong.

In the end, it left us with a highly difficult task. Inevitably, deserving players would be left out. This list is truly the best of the best.

Here's a look at the list we came up with:

20. Sean Perkins, Cambridge, 2021

Perkins was a four-sport standout for the Bobcats earning a total of 11 varsity letters on the baseball diamond, basketball court, track and soccer field during his four years at Cambridge High.

Perkins was the ace of the Bobcats' pitching staff pitcher under head baseball coach Jamaal Lowery. During his freshman season Perkins complied a 2-2 record in 22 innings pitched with 13 strikeouts. Following that up with an impressive 7-1 record in 51 innings worked with 30 Ks and an impressive ERA of just 2.50 as a sophomore.

On the track, Perkins was an OHSAA state qualifier in the high jump in 2021, and finished 13th with an effort 6-0. Perkins also earned First Team All-Eastern District in soccer, along with Third Team All-Eastern District recognition on the basketball court for the Bobcats.

Perkins opted for baseball, accepting a Division I scholarship to the University of Akron following graduation.

19. Jake Singleton, Meadowbrook, 2022

Singleton made his bid as one of the top player in Meadowbrook boys basketball history, being tabbed a two-time First Team All-Ohio performer, two-time Muskingum Valley League Player of the Year, and two-time East District Player of the Year capped his four-year varsity career with a impressive senior season that sealed his legacy at Meadowbrook.

Singleton rewrote the Meadowbrook record book, setting numerous marks in boys basketball, including putting himself atop the school's all-time boys basketball scoring list with 1,601 career points. The Colts' sharpshooter also became the all-time leader in made 3-pointers with 219 for his career and owns records for made 3-pointers in a season with 87, most steals in a season with 87, and points in a single season with 716.

Singleton is currently a member of the Marietta College men's basketball team.

18. Kyle Carpenter, Buckeye Trail, 2005

Carpenter was a four-year letterman in football, basketball and track for the Warriors, collecting a total of 12 letters during his high school career. Carpenter was a record setting quarterback who holds the career school passing mark of 4,021 yards career yards, along with a high season mark of 1,935 yards in 2004 to earn Second Team All-Ohio honors. He also holds the Buckeye Trail school record for career passing TDs with 39 along with 26 in a single season for another school record.

Carpenter tied a school record for interceptions during his junior year of 2004 with eight, and racked up 1,395 passing yards by connecting on 101-of-109 passing attempts for the Warriors.

On the basketball court, Carpenter received All-Ohio Honorable Mention, District 12 First Team, Pioneer Valley Conference First Team, Second Team Eastern District, and Second Team Ohio Valley Athletic Conference accolades during his senior season of 2005. Carpenter finished that season with 264 points, 171 rebounds (50 offensive), and 64 assists. Carpenter pulled down a total of 535 career rebounds.

In track and field, Carpenter holds school records in the 4x100 (45.9) set in 2004 and the 4x200 (1:36.84) during his senior season of 2005.

17. Trent Valentine, Cambridge, 2019

Valentine was a four-sport standout for the Bobcats on the baseball diamond, basketball court, track and the football field during his four years at Cambridge High. Earning a total of 12 varsity letters including four in baseball, three in basketball and football and two in track.

Valentine earned All-Ohio honors in both baseball and football for the Bobcats. Valentine finished with 175 career receptions and 16 career TD receptions. On the hardwood, Valentine is eighth in career assists with 188 along with eighth in single season assists with 97 and holds the single game assists mark with 11.

Valentine attended Marietta College on a baseball scholarship and had a highly successful career for the Pioneers.

16. Brad Wright, Cambridge, 2004

Wright made his mark on the links during his high school career at Cambridge, becoming one of the most successful golfers in the history of the program. Wright also led the CHS golf team to state tournament appearances his junior and senior year while earning First Team All Ohio (both years) as well as being named to the Academic All Ohio Team.

Wright, a four-year letterman for the Bobcats also received First Team All-Eastern District honors three times and was tabbed Division II Eastern District Player on the Year his junior and senior season. In addition to being named first team all-league for three consecutive years as well as player of the year in the East Central Ohio League (ECOL) his senior year.

After graduation, Wright went on to earn all-conference honors at both the University of Akron and The Ohio State University.  Wright was a three-year letterman at OSU and a one-year letterman at Akron along with MAC Freshman of the Year.

15. Brady Blattner, Meadowbrook, 2018

Blattner was a standout performer on the football field, baseball diamond and wrestling mat for the Colts during his four-year prep career. Blattner was a key member of the Colts’ 9-4 record squad that became the first in school history to host and win a playoff game, scoring victories against Oak Hill (62-13) and Ridgewood (50-25) before falling in the OHSAA Division V, Region 19 championship game to Johnstown-Monroe (45-14).

He racked up an impressive senior season with 145 total tackles (87 solo) from his linebacker post including 19 tackles for loss, three quarterback sacks and one pass interception returned for a TD. Blattner closed his career with a school record 356 tackles. Blattner was a two-way threat offensively with 39 catches for 1,001 yards and 11 touchdowns and 124 rushes for 969 yards and 19 TDs along with 10 two-point conversions.

Blattner was rewarded for his big senior season as a finalist for Ohio’s prestigious “Mr. Football” award presented by the Ohio Prep Sportswriters Association. He was awarded First Team All-Ohio and named the Division V Defensive Player of the Year. Other accolades earned last by Blattner were first team all-Eastern District and all-ECOL Gray Division (Player of the Year on both teams) and first team all-OVAC Class 4A. He has been selected to play in the OHSFCA North-South All-Star Classic on the Division IV-VII South team.

Blattner was also a three-year letter winner in both baseball and wrestling. In baseball, he holds the school record in triples in a single season (4) and career (7).

Following graduation, Blattner continued his football career at Ohio Dominican University to play for the Panthers.

14. Jake Heagen, John Glenn, 2011

When it came to all-around athletes, precious few compared to the 6-foot-4 Heagen, who turned a heralded four-year varsity basketball career into a full scholarship with Findlay.

Heagen twice was named All-Ohio in basketball — first-team as a senior — where he led John Glenn to a Division II regional final in 2011 after a 30-point, 15-rebound effort in the semifinals against Chillicothe. One game prior, he nailed the go-ahead 3 in the closing seconds in the district finals against Carrollton.

All told, he averaged 22 points and 10 rebounds per game, enough to earn a spot in the North-South All-Star Game. He had 20 games of at least 17 points as a senior and finished with 1,376 career points.

He also averaged more than 40 yards per punt in a football career that saw him also excel as a wide receiver. In baseball, he was a unanimous first-team All-MVL pick as a senior, helping the Muskies win the league title.

He was a mainstay at Findlay, averaging 15.5 points and 5.7 rebounds per game as a senior. He finished with 1, 280 career points.

13. Brandon Todd, Cambridge, 2003

Todd was another key contributor on the basketball court under Hall of Fame coach Gene Ford as a four-year starter. He scored 1,447 career points to rank second behind Geno Ford on the school’s all-time list. Todd was a two-time AP All-Ohio Division II first team selection as a junior and, and was honorable mention mention All-Ohio as a sophomore.

He was a two-time first team all-Eastern District Division II selection, named Co-Player of the Year as a junior and senior, and was a Second Team All-Ohio pick as a sophomore. He also gained first team all-District 12, all-OVAC Class 4A and all-East Central Ohio League honors twice, earning District 12 Player of the Year as a junior and senior. He was also a second team all-OVAC, all-District 12 and all-ECOL pick as a sophomore.

Todd, who averaged 20.2 points per game as a junior and 22.3 as a senior, is the Bobcats’ all-time leader in steals and ranks in the top 10 in assists and blocked shots.

He was also a talented sprinter in track, winning the district championship in the 100 meters as a senior to qualify for the OHSAA State Track Championships.

Todd continued his basketball career at nearby Muskingum University.

12. Devon Singleton, Meadowbrook, 2002

Singleton was a three-sport standout for the Colts, finishing with 11 varsity letters, competing in baseball (4), basketball (4) and football (3). In basketball, Singleton earned Third Team All-Ohio honors as a senior, and Honorable Mention All-Ohio junior year. Singleton finished with 1,341 career points to stand fourth on the Meadowbrook all-time scoring list.

On the gridiron, Singleton was a three year starter at QB for the Colts, reeling in Special Mention All-Ohio recognition as a junior and senior. Singleton stands second in Meadowbrook record books in completions (300) and passing yards (4,283).

On the baseball diamond, Singleton was a four year starter/letter winner and ranks second in career doubles (27) and fourth in career RBIs (76) for the Colts.

11. Dorian Bass, John Glenn, 2003

Bass closed his prep career as one of the Muskies’ all-time best on the basketball court, finishing his four-year career with 1,574 points. He was a two-time AP All-Ohio Division II First Team selection as a junior and senior and was special mention mention all-state as a sophomore.

The 6-1 Bass received first team all-Muskingum Valley League honors four times while earning All-Eastern District Division II and all-District 12 first team honors three times and was named “Player of the Year” in all three as a junior and senior. Statistically, he averaged 13 points as a freshman, 19 as a sophomore, 21 as a junior and 20 as a senior and he finished with 135 career three-point goals.

During his junior and senior seasons, John Glenn had a 39-6 combined record with two MVL championships, two AP Division II state poll Top 10 finishes, and a D-II District runner-up finish. Bass was also a four-year letterman in baseball, earning all-Eastern District and all-Muskingum Valley League recognition.

Bass continued his athletic career at The University of Findlay where he was a four-year letterman in basketball.

10. Austin Carleton, Buckeye Trail, 2013

Carleton might have got a late start in athletics, not competing in organized sports until joining the Buckeye Trail track team as a freshman. But he quickly made his presence felt by setting the school high jump record at 6-6 in 2011 as a freshman. Carleton would capture a regional title in the high jump that year and qualified for the Ohio High School Athletic Association state track and field championships.

Carleton would then reel off back-to-back return trips to the OHSAA state meet for an impressive three-year consecutive appearance streak. Carleton missed out on a fourth straight berth as he opted to graduate a year early in 2013.

He began competing in long jump and in 2012 as a sophomore set the school long jump record at 22-7.75 and was a repeat regional champ in high jump. And broke through with his first berth at the OHSAA state track meet in 2012 and had an impressive performance earning the boys team 15 points at state and earning All-Ohio honors.  Carleton tied for second place at state in the high jump at 6-2 and placed second in long jump at 22-7.75, which was a new Buckeye Trail school record.  That same year, he competed at nationals in Junior Olympics in the high jump (6-2.75), long jump (21-3.25), and triple jump (42-2.25).

Carleton spent his Warriors' prep career competing at a high level, jumping at least at 6-0 for his entire three-year career.

9. Brock Davis, Buckeye Trail, 2008

Davis made solid contributions on both the football field and track as a four-year letterman in both sports for the Warriors. He earned First Team All-Ohio honors on the gridiron, along with earning All-Ohio recognition with an appearance at the OHSAA state track and field championships in 2007. Davis turned in a seventh-place finish in the 400 meters at the state meet with a time of 50.84.

Davis would set a pair of Buckeye Trail school track and field records during his senior year to close out his standout prep athletic career. He turned in a 49.61 effort in the 400-meter dash for the new record, along with establishing a new school best in the 200-meter dash with a time 23.06.

Davis led the 2007 Buckeye Trail football team to a perfect 10-0 mark from his quarterback slot to reel in First Team All-Ohio, All-Pioneer Valley Conference and All-Ohio Valley Athletic Conference honors.

In his senior season, Davis passed for 1,727 yards with connecting on 98-of-173 passing attempts with 14 touchdown passes. On the ground, he added another 583 yards on 99 carries for a robust 5.9 yards per carry average.

8. Stephen Ford, Cambridge, 2007

Ford was a dominating force in the Cambridge football ground game during his three-year Bobcats football career racking up an impressive 5,351 yards rushing. Ford churned out 1,938 yards in 2005 during a 9-2 season by CHS. Ford followed that up in 2006 with 2,223 yard as the Bobcats were undefeated in the regular season and defeated Northwest in the first round of playoffs before ending the season 11-1.

An impressive display of his rushing dominance was 69 carries for 412 yards in a 41-35 victory over Dover during the regular season. Ford scored two touchdowns in the victory, the last time the Bobcats beat the Tornadoes on the gridiron.

For his career, Ford rushed 855 times for a 6.3 yards per carry average and 68 touchdowns. Ford also caught 18 passes for 325 yards and three touchdowns. On special teams, he returned 11 kickoffs for 170 yards, and 14 punts for 114 yards.

Ford’s list of accolades include First Team All-Ohio honors following both the 2005 and 2006 seasons when he was named the Division III Offensive Player of the Year. He also earned first team All-Ohio Valley Athletic Conference and All-East Central Ohio League status in both 2005 and 2006. Following the 2006 season, Ford played in the prestigious U.S. Army All-American Bowl game in San Antonio, Texas.

Ford died at the age of 26 on Oct. 21, 2015, due to a rare fungus infection of the brain.

7. Drew Rackley, John Glenn, 2016

Rackley played only basketball at John Glenn, but he had arguably the best four-year career in the MVL since former Muskie Jay Burson rewrote the record books in the mid-1980s.

Rackley piled up 1,698 career points from his backcourt spot and was a two-time First Team All-Ohio performer who capped his Muskies' career by being named the AP Ohio Division II Player of the Year and the Ohio Coaches Division II Player of the Year during his senior season in 2016. Rackley averaged 22.1 points per game, 6.2 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game to lead John Glenn to the OHSAA Division II State Championship. He was named the Eastern District Player of the Year and Muskingum Valley League Player of the Year along with First-Team All-East District

Rackley accepted a Division I scholarship to UNC-Asheville, where he played two years before finishing his career at Division II West Liberty (West Virginia).

6. Adam Davenport, Cambridge, 2001

Davenport was a terror on the basketball court at Cambridge under legendary head coach Gene Ford, earning First Team All-Ohio honors during his senior season 2000-01 season. Davenport also received Second Team All-Ohio as a junior and Special Mention All-Ohio his sophomore season at CHS.

Davenport holds numerous school records including career rebounds (617), in rebounds in a season (260), first in career blocked shots (165). Doing plenty of damage inside the paint for the Bobcats, Davenport finished his career with an impressive .636 career shooting percentage, along with the top single season field goal percentage at .676. Davenport is fifth on the CHS career scoring list with 1,288 points.

Davenport added All-Ohio honors in track and field as a senior in 2001, finishing sixth in the shot put with an effort of 52-6.25 at the OHSAA state track and field meet.

5. Errik Snell, Cambridge, 2015

Snell was a standout performer on the track and on the gridiron for the Bobcats during his four-year athletic career. Snell brought home a state championship in the 110 hurdles with a school record time of 14.17 in 2014 as a junior to earn All-Ohio honors. Snell would add All-Ohio honors in both 2013 and 2015 on the track. Snell holds a second school record in the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 30.18 in 2015.

Snell also excelled on the football field at CHS, where his blazing speed was a constant threat to Bobcat opponents both in the return game in special teams, as well as the offensive game plan.

"Errik provided a lot of excitement on special teams when it came to punt returns," said Cambridge head coach Kevin Gunn, who enters his second assignment leading the Bobcats football program this fall. "It was an opportunity for him to showcase his tremendous speed and create explosive plays for us."

Snell played for Gunn during his first stint leading the Cambridge football program for six years, compiling a 28-33 record before stepping down following the 2018 season. Gunn was named Eastern District Division IV Coach of the Year following the 2016 season after guiding the Bobcats to a 7-4 mark and a spot into OHSAA playoffs.

"Eric was always a deep threat in our passing game, and because of that it opened up a lot of underneath routes that other people benefitted from," Gunn said. "Just the threat of Eric getting loose with a big play, forced other teams to pay attention to him. Which created us with opportunities to attack them in other areas."

4. Davis Black, Meadowbrook, 2019

Davis excelled on the football field and basketball court for the Colts earning All-Ohio honors in both sports during his four years at Meadowbrook High.

Davis was a standout QB for Meadowbrook reeling in First Team All-Ohio recognition during his senior season and Second Team All-Ohio as a junior. Davis holds numerous school records including career passing yards with 4,954, career TD passes (54), TD passes in a season (27), passing yards in a single game (426)

On the hardwood, Davis was tabbed First Team All-Ohio as a senior and Honorable Mention All-Ohio his junior season. Davis tallied 811 career points to rank 11th in Meadowbrook history, along with 506 career rebounds (4th), 140 steals (4th) and 140 assists (4th).

3. Eric Fox, Cambridge, 2014

Fox was a four-sport athlete for the Bobcats, compiling 15 varsity letters during his prep career competing in football (3), soccer (4), wrestling (4) and track and field (4). Fox was All-Ohio Placekicker senior year and earned back-to-back runner-up finishes in the pole vault at the state meet as a junior and senior. Holds the Cambridge pole vault school record at 15-10 and also the school record for assists in soccer with 24.

Fox was named Athlete of the Year in the Eastern District as a senior, along with Eastern District All Star in the pole vault, 110 hurdles, long jump, high jump and Cambridge High School Athlete of the Year (2014).

Following graduation, Fox attended Louisville University and was a four-year member of the Cardinals men's track team.

2. Joseph Clifford, John Glenn, 2019

The lean, athletic Clifford set a new standard for track success, capturing three Division II state titles in the hurdles from 2018-19.

He won the 110 hurdles in 14.20 as a junior, edging Dayton Dunbar's Jalani Allen. He took the 300 hurdles in 37.41, just ahead of MVL rival Ethan Tabor. Both surpassed the 38-second barrier.

He repeated in the 110s as a senior, clocking at 14.36 into a headwind. He took third in the 300s at 37.82, just behind Dayton Meadowdale's Javan Poole (:37.40) and Huron's Jimmy Harkelroad (:37.61). He added a fourth-place finish in the high jump, clearing 6-5, to finish with five All-Ohio awards in his career.

Then there was football.

The most explosive player for veteran coach Matt Edwards was a threat as a receiver, runner and return man for two teams that reached the postseason. He was a third-team All-Ohio pick as a senior, as seven of his 23 catches went for touchdowns.

As a junior, when the Muskies were mere seconds from reaching the Division IV state finals, he turned 28 catches into 500 yards with eight scores. He was also the MVL's top return man.

Clifford chose a track scholarship to Nebraska over multiple offers to play football, including Division II West Liberty (West Virginia).

1. Colt Emerson, John Glenn, 2023

Prior to becoming a first-round pick in the MLB first-year player draft of Seattle, and earning a baseball scholarship to Auburn, Emerson was a first-team All-Ohio safety and wide receiver who some considered the MVL's top player.

But baseball was his meal ticket, spending his summers with USA Baseball as one of the country's top infield prospects.

The Mariners made Emerson the first area player to be drafted in the first round since Zanesville High outfielder Jay Payton went 29th overall in 1994 out of Georgia Tech. Emerson was the first high school player from Ohio taken in the first round since Derek Deitrich in 2007.

Emerson earned first-team All-Ohio and was named the Ohio Gatorade Player of the Year and Ohio High School Baseball Coaches Association Player of the Year in Division II following a senior season that saw him hit .446 with eight homers and 25 RBIs and a .586 on-base percentage.

That followed a strong performance for the USA Baseball 18-and-under team last fall, when he started all nine games and batted .360 with a 1.035 OPS. He played third base, per the team's request. This, against the top high school talent in the country.

Emerson was also an elite performer on the football field, hauling in 58 receptions for 756 yards and eight TDs as a junior receiver, while he grabbed five interceptions as a safety. He also averaged nearly 40 yards per punt and better than 10 yards on eight punt returns. He averaged 42.7 yards per punt as a sophomore. The result was a spot on the All-Ohio first team in Division IV.

Emerson is currently the shortstop at Class A-Modesto in California.

KSutton1@gannett.com; X: @KSuttonDJSports; Instagram: kevinsutton_dailyjeffsports

This article originally appeared on The Daily Jeffersonian: Meet Daily Jeffersonian's Top 20 male high school athletes of the last 25 years