Strongsville isn’t satisfied with its progression: 2024-25 boys basketball preseason tour

BEREA, Ohio — Time ran out on Strongsville in its 55-54 loss to end last season in the OHSAA Division I district semifinals against Archbishop Hoban.

The Mustangs have steadily improved in recent years, but that is not enough for seniors Josh Byers and Brayden Wypasek. Byers is a four-year starter for coach Kevin Sapara, while Wypasek is a third-year standout.

Their team is deeper, but less experienced with those two guards as the only returning letterwinners. That is because Strongsville was so thin at times that Sapara played his five starters for all 32 minutes of games.

They technically have a third starter back — from the 2022-23 season — with 6-foot-5 forward Nolan Beard's return from a football injury that kept him out for all of his junior season in basketball. Beard remained healthy on the football field as that team's quarterback and expects to soon return to the basketball court.

His presence should boost a team with expectations of winning the Greater Cleveland Conference and making a deeper playoff push.

Check out the Mustangs from their four-team scrimmage Thursday at Berea-Midpark on the cleveland.com preseason boys basketball tour with the video above. Below is a quick snapshot of the team:

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Strongsville Mustangs

Coach: Kevin Sapara (fifth season)

Returning starters: Brayden Waypasek (5-9, sr., G, 14.8 points, 5.0 assists), Josh Byers (6-3, sr., G, 23.0 points), Nolan Beard (6-6, sr., F)

In the rotation: Ameer Nemeh (6-1, sr., G), Dean Alnazar (6-0, sr., G), Luke Slonaker (6-9, jr., F), Shane McIntyre (6-0, jr., G), Matt Heftke (6-2, jr., G), Abdul Awanda (6-1, jr., G), Brandon Byers (6-0 fr., G)

Division I, Greater Cleveland Conference

Nov. 29 vs. Holy Name at Cleveland Heights, Dec. 3 at Nordonia, Dec. 6 vs. Cleveland Heights, Dec. 10 at Wadsworth, Dec. 13 at Medina, Dec. 20 at Willoughby South, Dec. 27 vs. East Tech at Joe Lynch Classic, Dec. 28 vs. TBD at Joe Lynch Classic, Dec. 29 vs. TBD at Joe Lynch Classic

Jan. 3 at Amherst, Jan. 7 at Mentor, Jan. 10 vs. Shaker Heights, Jan. 14 vs. Lakewood, Jan. 17 at Euclid, Jan. 19 at University School, Jan. 21 at Cleveland Heights, Jan. 24 vs. Medina, Jan. 31 at Brunswick

Feb. 4 vs. Mentor, Feb. 10 vs. SPIRE, Feb. 14 at Shaker Heights, Feb. 18 vs. Brunswick, Feb. 21 vs. Euclid

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