BOYS
by Derek Toney
Mount St. Joseph, the top team in the Baltimore Banner/Varsity Sports Network Boys Basketball Preseason Top 15, finished No. 1 in the final VSN poll last March. Mount St. Joseph returns last season’s consensus Player of the Year in 6-foot-8 University of Illinois recruit Amani Hansberry.
St. Frances will again be Mount St. Joseph’s biggest challenger with fourth-ranked Mount Carmel and No. 8 Archbishop Spalding in the mix. The Gaels opened their MIAA A/BCL schedule with a win at No. 11 Loyola Balkefield on Saturday and jump deeper into fire this week with a visit to Mount Carmel.
Lake Clifton won the Baltimore City championship last season en route to a third straight state title. City, which returns most of its roster from last season’s Class 3A state semifinalist, looks to dethrone the Lakers along with Edmondson. The Red Storm lost three times to Lake Clifton including the City and Class 1A title games.
Parkville won the Baltimore County title before a run at an undefeated season ended in the Class 4A state semifinals. The No. 3 Knights are the team to beat in Baltimore County where New Town is poised to challenge.
Meade is in position for the 4A state title after falling in the semifinals last winter. The experienced Mustangs are the favorite in Anne Arundel County.
Century will try to continue its championship reign in Carroll County, while Long Reach and Wilde Lake may be on a collision course for supremacy in Howard County. Aberdeen is widely regarded as the team to beat in the UCBAC Chesapeake.
St. Mary’s rolled through the MIAA B Conference to the league crown last winter. The Saints appear to have the tools to win it again this season.
2022-23 Baltimore Banner/VSN Boys Basketball Preseason Top 15
1. MOUNT ST. JOSEPH
2021-22 Record: 32-7
Final VSN 2021-22 ranking: No. 1
Coach: Pat Clatchey
Players to watch: Austin Abrams, Sr., guard; Amani Hansberry, Sr., forward/center; Ace Valentine, Sr., guard
The Gaels, off to a 4-0 start in 2022-23, are again the favorite in the MIAA A Conference and Baltimore Catholic League. Hansberry, the area’s consensus Player of the Year last season and the state’s No. 1 senior prospect, headlines a returning veteran nucleus. Valentine, an UMBC signee, will lead the backcourt with seniors Austin Abrams (Stonehill) and Sean Clark.
2. ST. FRANCES
2021-22 Record: 35-8
Final VSN 2021-22 ranking: No. 2
Coach: Nick Myles
Players to watch: Carlton Carrington, Sr., guard; Jahnathan Lamothe, Sr., guard
The Panthers (1-1 in 2022-23) will challenge again for the MIAA A Conference and Baltimore Catholic League crowns. The East Baltimore school will rely on its backcourt, featuring Division I recruits Lamothe (Maryland) and Carrington (Pittsburgh), and talented sophomore Tyler Jackson.
3. PARKVILLE
2021 Record: 24-1
Final VSN 2021-22 ranking: No. 3
Coach: Josh Czerski
Players to watch: Sincere Barfield, Jr., guard; Caron Smith, Sr., guard
The Knights seek an opportunity at the Class 4A state championship after suffering its only loss in the state semifinal round last winter. Smith and Barfield return from the starting five and a couple of transfers, including 6-foot-6 forward Favor Okigweh (Joppatowne) will have a significant impact for the reigning Baltimore County champions.
4. MOUNT CARMEL
2021-22 Record: 25-8
Final VSN 2021-22 ranking: No. 2
Coach: Trevor Quinn
Players to watch: Andrew Dixon, Jr., guard; Mitchell Kalu, Sr., forward; Allen Mordi, Jr., forward
Despite graduating Deon Perry to graduation (now at Loyola University) and Luke Bamboye transferring to Desert Mount Vista in Arizona, the Cougars (4-0 in 2022-23) should challenge in the MIAA A Conference and Baltimore Catholic League. Dixon, Kalu, Mordi and senior Drazen Sinigoj all started games last season, and Quinn expects 6-7 senior post Omarion Reid and sophomore guard Mario Tatum to play major roles.
5. CITY
2021-22 Record: 20-3
Final VSN 2021-22 ranking: No. 9
Coach: Omarr Smith
Players to watch: Trent Egbiremolen, Soph., guard; Cam Horton, Sr., forward; Kyree Smith, Sr., guard
The Knights look to dethrone Lake Clifton in Baltimore City and capture their first state championship since its 27-0 run in 2013-14. Four starters - Horton, Egbiremolen (6-4), Smith (6-3) and senior guard K’won Johnson - return. Smith said City will be more athletic and uptempo with senior Daniel Parsons, a transfer from Mount Carmel, in the starting lineup.
6. LAKE CLIFTON/REACH
2021-22 Record: 21-1
Final VSN 2021-22 ranking: No. 7
Coach: Herman Harried
Players to watch: Kris Mitchell, Sr., forward; Quinton Monroe, Sr., forward/guard
The Lakers will be again in the hunt for the Baltimore City title as well as a fourth straight state championship. Monroe and Mitchell is one of the best duos in the area, but defense - a trademark under Harried - will be Lake Clifton’s calling card.
7. ARCHBISHOP SPALDING
2021-22 Record: 25-11
Final VSN 2021-22 ranking: No. 6
Coach: Josh Pratt
Players to watch: R.J. Newton, Jr., forward; Malik Washington, Soph., forward; Holden Williamson, Jr., guard
Despite graduating a veteran class, led by two-time BCL Player of the Year and McDonald’s All-American Cam Whitmore (Villanova), the Cavaliers (1-0 in 2022-23) should be an intriguing watch in the MIAA A Conference and Baltimore Catholic League. Washington, a top reserve last season as a freshman, will lead a quick and athletic roster that could be a tough out come postseason.
8. EDMONDSON
2021-22 Record: 20-4
Final VSN 2021-22 ranking: No. 14
Coach: Darnell Dantzler
Players to watch: Josiah Brown, Jr., guard; Malik Davis, Jr., forward; Kyree Sherrod, Jr., guard
The Red Storm should be alongside City and Lake Clifton in the Baltimore City basketball championship chase. Brown, Davis and Sherrod return from last year’s city title and Class 1A state runner-ups. Sophomores D.J. Dantzler (guard), and 6-7 post Marcus Jackson will play significant roles.
9. MEADE
2021-22 Record: 19-4
Final VSN 2021-22 ranking: No. 15
Coach: Mike Glick
Player to watch: Xavion Roberson, Sr., guard
The Mustangs are primed for a run at the Class 4A state championship after falling in last season’s state semifinals. Roberson, an All-Anne Arundel County pick, is back with seniors Shawn Jones (6-foot-6 forward), Kyree Scott (6-1 guard/forward) and John Teague (6-3 forward) from last year’s starting lineup. The Mustangs have the experience and depth to win the Anne Arundel County title and reach the University of Maryland in March.
10. NEW TOWN
2021-22 Record: 17-4
Final VSN 2021-22 ranking: No. 12
Coach: Derrick Wise
Players to watch: Arrington Greenfield, Sr., guard; Cam Sparrow, Sr., forward/guard; Justus Stanton, Soph., guard
The Titans are poised to challenge Parkville in Baltimore County. Sparrow has the potential to be one of the area’s best while Stanton and Greenfield are ready to advance their respective games. New Town has a solid non-league schedule including a trip to the Governor’s Challenge in Wicomico during the Christmas holiday and visit to No. 1 Mount St. Joseph to start 2023.
11. LOYOLA BLAKEFIELD
2021-22 Record: 16-12
Final VSN 2021-22 ranking: No. 8
Coach: Josh Davalli
Players to watch: J’lin Brown, Jr., guard; Ryder Drew, Sr., guard
The Dons, off to a 2-1 start in 2022-23, should be a thorn for the upper half of the MIAA A Conference and Baltimore Catholic League. Drew is the lone returning starter from last season with reserves Brown, junior forward Landen Elser and junior guard Peter Laake moving into prominent roles. Loyola, which lost to Mount Carmel in an epic MIAA A playoff opener last winter, should be again in the MIAA A postseason hunt this season.
12. ST. MARY’S
2021-22 Record: 29-8
Final VSN 2021-22 ranking: No. 11
Coach: Trey Quinn
Players to watch: Aiden Harris, Sr., center; Ajani Lomax, Sr., guard; Grady Wolfe, Sr., guard
The Saints (1-3 in 2022-23) look to repeat as MIAA B Conference champions. The Annapolis school returns one of the area’s top post players in 6-8 Harris - who’s committed to St. Francis University in Pennsylvania - along with six letterwinners. The Annapolis school will be formidable in the paint with 6-9 sophomore Mason Hopper and newcomers Luke Williams, a 6-6 transfer from Annapolis Area Christian, and 6-7 Riley Costello from Archbishop Spalding.
13. GLENELG COUNTRY
2021-22 Record: 4-14
Final VSN 2021-22 ranking: Not ranked
Coach: Garrett O’Donnell
Players to watch: Patrick Curtain, So. guard; Drew Mckenna, Jr., forward
The Dragons, off to a 2-1 start in 2022-23, could be a team to watch this winter. Mckenna is one of the country’s top players in the Class of 2024 and is healthy after a hand injury cost him nearly all of last season. Curtain, who was a first-team All-Howard County pick as a freshman last season at Marriotts Ridge, is in the fold. If Glenelg Country develops chemistry, it could contend for a MIAA A postseason spot.
14. LONG REACH
2021-22 Record: 14-6
Final VSN 2021-22 ranking: Not ranked
Coach: Andrew Lazzor
Players to watch: RJ Barnes, junior, guard; Christian Dean, senior, guard; Cameron Valentine, senior, guard
After its best showing in more than a decade last winter, the Lightning are in line to challenge for the Howard County championship. Dean, 6-3, was an All-Howard County first-team pick last winter, and Barnes and Valentine brings experience and depth in the backcourt. Long Reach, who lost to eventual state 3A semifinalist Atholton in the East Region final, won the Glen Burnie League over the summer.
15. CENTURY
2021-22 Record: 19-4
Final VSN 2021-22 ranking: Not ranked
Coach: George Wunder
Players to watch: Ben Chenoweth, Jr., forward; Andrew Marcinko, Sr., guard; Jake Winkles, Sr., guard
The road to the Carroll County Athletic League championship will again run through Century. Marcinko was the Carroll County Player of the Year last winter, and Winkles and Chenoweth bring back experience. How fast the underclassmen develop may decide whether the Knights can win a seventh CCAL crown in 10 seasons.
GIRLS
by Katherine Dunn
After COVID-19 canceled the state championships in 2020 and 2021 and the Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland championships in 2021, girls basketball rebounded with a banner season last winter. McDonogh finished a wire-to-wire run at No.1 with the IAAM A Conference title while Western, Poly, Fallston and Pikesville claimed state championships to give the Baltimore area its first sweep since 1986.
The huge IAAM B Conference split in half for two winners. Mercy won the B2 Conference for its first IAAM basketball title while Our Lady of Mount Carmel won the B1 for its first championship since 2006. Friends won the C Conference for the first time since 2009.
McDonogh holds onto the No. 1 ranking, but a few teams could challenge the Eagles in the A Conference, especially St. Frances, which won five straight titles before last season, and St. Vincent Pallotti, a talented young team on the rise.
Poly likely will have something to say about the top spot too. The No. 2 Engineers play McDonogh and Pallotti in the new year.
Here’s a look at the frontrunners and the formidable challengers in the 2022-23 Baltimore Banner/Varsity Sports Network Preseason Girls Basketball Top 15.
2022-23 Baltimore Banner/VSN Preseason Girls Basketball Top 15
1. MCDONOGH
2021-22 record: 22-4
Final VSN 2021-22 ranking: No. 1
Coach: Brad Rees
Players to watch: Makaela Quimby, Sr., guard; Paris Locke, Sr., guard; Kennedy Umeh, Jr., post; Anaiah Jenkins, Sr., forward
The defending IAAM A Conference champion returns four starters and severalother talented players, including junior guard Ava McKennie, while adding promising freshman point guard Autumn Fleary. The Eagles have a balanced, versatile offense and strong leadership. A tough early season schedule, including challenging opponents from several states, should help prepare the Eagles for another title run.
2. POLY
2021-22 record: 18-3
Final VSN 2021-22 ranking: No. 4
Coach: Kendall Peace-Able
Players to watch: Da’Brya Clark, Sr., guard; Trinity Massenburg, Sr., forward; Riley Holliday, Sr., forward
Coming off the first state championship in program history, the Engineers should make another run at the Class 3A title with a strong contingent of returning players. Fourth-year starter Clark led a balanced offense last season while the 6-1 duo of Massenburg and Holliday controlled the inside. The Engineers have plenty of depth to feed the smothering defense Peace-Able has made the foundation of her teams.
3. ST. VINCENT PALLOTTI
2021-22 record: 11-7
Final VSN 2021-22 ranking: No. 10
Coach: Rashida Joiner
Players to watch: Mary Amoateng, Soph., guard; Gabrielle Clary, Jr., wing; Sydney Anthony, Jr., guard
The Panthers bring back three starters but add a lot of talent after reaching the IAAM A Conference semifinals last season. Joiner expects 6-foot-4 freshman forward Arianna Harris-Mott to make an immediate impact, giving them needed help on the boards. Three transfers add tremendous depth and allow the quick Panthers to spread the floor and continue to play an uptempo style.
4. ST. FRANCES
2021-22 record: 19-4
Final VSN 2021-22 ranking: No. 2
Coach: Jerome Shelton
Players to watch: Ande’a Cherisier, Sr., forward; Kimmya Hicks, Sr., guard; Kameryn Dorsey, Sr., guard
The Panthers return just one starter and only four players from a year ago when they beat Class 4A state champ Western and Class 3A state champ Poly but lost three times to McDonogh, including in the IAAM A Conference final. Despite the turnover, they have the senior leadership, the up-tempo game and an influx of young talent — including six freshmen — to keep them in contention in the conference.
5. HOWARD
2021-22 record: 19-1
Final VSN 2021-22 ranking: No. 5
Coach: Scott Robinson
Players to watch: Gabby Kennerly, Sr., guard; Meghan Yarnevich, Soph., forward; Samiyah Nasir, Sr., guard
The Howard County champions return four starters, including senior guard Jenna Vetter, after reaching the Class 3A state title game last winter for the first time since 1994. With strong guard play and exceptional ball-handling all around, the Lions still have a big hole to fill after graduating 6-foot forward Gabby Scott. However, Yarnevich, 6-1, has expanded her game after a stellar freshman season.
6. GLEN BURNIE
2021-22 record: 22-1
Final VSN 2021-22 ranking: No. 6
Coach: Samuel Porter
Players to watch: Amourie Porter, Sr., guard; Lania Lick, Sr., forward/guard; Layla Washington, Sr., forward
Coming off their best season in almost 40 years, the Anne Arundel County champion Gophers bring back a strong contingent from the team that defeated county rival Old Mill four times and reached the Class 4A state semifinals. Aiming to finish what they started a year ago, the Gophers have plenty of experience led by Porter, the county Player of the Year, and they have added a few more playmakers.
7. MERCY
2021-22 record: 22-1
Final VSN 2021-22 ranking: No. 9
Coach: George Panageoutou
Players to watch: Milan Brown, Soph., guard; Myah Hazelton, Jr., forward/center; Olivia Liszt, Sr., guard
Four starters return from the Magic’s IAAM B2 championship squad. Brown, one of the area’s top point guards, was a game-changer as a freshman. The addition of Hazelton, a 6-4 transfer from Sparrows Point who has committed to Virginia Tech, gives the Magic an inside boost they’ll need as they jump into the A Conference.
8. OLD MILL
2021-22 record: 17-4
Final VSN 2021-22 ranking: No. 7
Coach: Henry Fuller
Players to watch: Amani Watts, Sr., forward; Amaya Douglas, Sr., guard/forward; Nevaeh Brown, Sr., guard
The Patriots return four senior starters, including guard NyAsia Furtell, from a team that suffered all four losses to Anne Arundel County rival Glen Burnie. Aiming to take back the top spot in the county, they continue to rely on an up-tempo game, balanced scoring and a dominating inside game from Watts, a four-year starter nicknamed “Baby Shaq.”
9. WESTERN
2021-22 record: 20-2
Final VSN 2021-22 ranking: No. 3
Coach: Tasha Townsend
Players to watch: Breasia Coit, Jr., center; Maya Gray, Jr., forward
Last winter, the Doves won their first Class 4A state crown since 1995 led by high-scoring senior guards Ny’Ceara Pryor, VSN’s Player of the Year, and Gabby Johnson. They had just seven players on that team and just two starters return, but 6-3 Coit and 5-9 Gray provide a strong foundation for the defending Baltimore City champs and their promising youngsters.
10. FOREST PARK
2021-22 record: 18-3
Final VSN 2021-22 ranking: No. 16
Coach: Jermaine Dunn
Players to watch: Aliyah Carroll, Jr., guard/forward; Chaniya Taylor, Jr., forward/center; Amora Alston, Jr., guard
The Foresters lost only to state champions last season — Poly and Western in the Baltimore City league and Pikesville in the Class 1A state semifinals — and they bring back four starters. They also have players ready to step into key roles with the athleticism, skill and depth at every position to contend in the city and in the 1A state playoffs.
11. OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL
2021-22 record: 18-4
Final VSN 2021-22 ranking: No. 8
Coach: Rob Long
Players to watch: Hawa Dombouya, Sr., center; Anyiah Davis Sr., guard; Dania Madden, Sr., forward/guard
The Cougars won the IAAM B1 Conference championship last season and now jump into the A Conference. Four starters return, but they will have to replace hot-shooting 1,000-point scorer Tsion Smith. Still, the Cougars will continue to be a strong rebounding team, especially with 6-4 University of Maryland-bound Dombouya, while they also excel on the defensive end.
12. PIKESVILLE
2021-22 record: 18-4
Final VSN 2021-22 ranking: No. 14
Coach: Mike Dukes
Players to Watch: Jayda Mayles, Sr., wing; Tykeisha Hill, Jr., post; Aliyah Taylor, Jr., forward
The Panthers won their second Class 1A state championship in a row last winter (with two COVID seasons in between) and will go for another with an experienced starting lineup. They had just one senior a year ago, so most of their players are state playoff veterans, but they have to fill the void left when 20-point scorer Amori Jarrett transferred this fall.
13. HEREFORD
2021-22 record: 19-3
Final VSN 2021-22 ranking: No. 13
Coach: Dave Schreiner
Players to Watch: Lauren Kraft, Jr., forward; Gabby Nieberlein, Jr., guard; Lauren Orner, Sr., guard
The defending Baltimore County champions reached the state title game for the first time in 40 years last winter, losing in double overtime to Fallston, 57-56, in Class 2A. The Bulls return three veteran starters but need to replace the inside experience of their graduated forward duo, Jordan Peterson and Kayla Nieberlein.
14. MANCHESTER VALLEY
2021-22 record: 21-3
Final VSN 2021-22 ranking: No. 17
Coach: Heather DeWees
Players to Watch: Carmaya Bowman, Sr., forward; Casey Meredith, Sr., guard; Reese Kresslein, Jr., guard
The defending Carroll County champions return nine players, including three starters from the team that lost to Howard in their Class 3A East Region final. The Mavericks have a lot of experience with 10 juniors and seniors and they’ll need them to replace the leadership they graduated. They will be strong defensively and have tremendous depth.
15. HARFORD TECH
2021-22 record: 15-7
Final VSN 2021-22 ranking: Not ranked
Coach: Brad Hunt
Players to watch: Anyia Gibson. Sr., forward; Amya Goodsell, Soph., guard
The Cobras return their top eight players after falling to eventual Class 2A state champion Fallston in the regional final. Gibson, a four-year starter, was the only junior starter surrounded by sophomores and freshmen last winter. With their chemistry, the Cobras should be a strong contender in the Upper Chesapeake Bay Athletic Conference.
