3rd Annual Baltimore Hoops Festival Preview
Being just a month away from the private school playing their first regular season games, certain showcases and events are being finalized. In the Baltimore area, the third annual Baltimore Hoops Festival will be a can’t miss event. There will be teams from DC, Pennsylvania, and Florida as well as the Baltimore area that include some of the best talent in the country. The event will be held at St. Frances Academy on January 5.
Let’s take a look at slate of games.
10am Gerstell vs Edmonson Westside
Gerstell boasts the most talent in the MIAA B Conference led by senior guard Anthony Carpenter his backcourt mate in sophomore Ahmad Harrison. The two can score in bunches and will be leaned on heavily by the Falcons to put points up against a very physical Edmonson squad. Teon Gardner will lead the way for The Red Storm. At 6-foot-3 with length and athleticism, Gardner provides versatility defensively and is always a threat when the ball is in his hands.
11:45am McDonogh vs City
This will be one of the more intriguing games on the schedule with all of the young, major talent that will be showcased. McDonogh has a trio of freshman in Dani Dennis-Sutton, Preston Howard and Everett Cooper that are primed to be key contributors from the start. Their sophomore duo in Jared Billups and Dave Brown provide length and athleticism. Both stand at 6-foot-4 and are very versatile. Senior guard Drew Green and junior wing Curtis Jacobs will be go to options and the leaders on the floor. City has a couple of transfers that will put them in contention in the Baltimore City standings when it’s all said and done. Sophomore guard Darius Tilghman and junior guard Dominic Carrington complement each other well in that Tilghman can create off the dribble and Carrington is a sniper from three. It’ll be interesting to see if City can deal with McDonogh’s size inside and whether McDonogh’s guards will be dialed in on stopping Tilghman and Carrington. Whoever take care of their assignment better, wins.
1:30pm Admiral Farragut Academy (Fla) vs Boys’ Latin
Julian Allen, the head coach of Farragut Academy, returns home to his stomping grounds to face a solid Boys’ Latin squad. Farragut will feature a few familiar faces in junior wing Jalen Parker, a transfer from Milford Mill, and junior big man John Ojiako, a 6-foot-10 big man who played with Team Thrill this summer. Boys’ Latin has one of the best shooting teams you’ll see in Baltimore. Headlined by Loyola (MD) commit Cam Spencer, the Lakers play a disciplined style of basketball that includes a ton of three’s. Senior guards Cam Watts and Sam Grace will assist Spencer in providing long range bombs throughout. This one will come down to seeing if Farragut is disciplined enough to play with the Lakers for a full 32 minutes. If Farragut can make it a fast-paced game, they have the athletes to help come away with a win.
3:15pm The Hill School (PA) vs St. Maria Goretti
In an interesting match up, The Hill School travels to Baltimore led by junior wing Caleb Dorsey and his little brother, sophomore guard Gabe Dorsey. Caleb is a bigger, physical player that likes to finish around the rim while Gabe can feel it up at an alarming rate from outside. Goretti will lean on senior guard RJ Blakney and Penn State commit forward Abdou Tsimbila. Goretti has some quality depth that should lift them over Hill in this one, but there are certainly no guarantees in this event.
5:00pm Milford Mill vs Mervo
These teams faced off in last year’s event in what was an exciting match up. Milford Mill came back from 20 points to escape with a win. Mervo gained some talent through transfers this season, but lose their best player Will Thomas to foot surgery. That in itself is a huge hit for the Mustangs, but with players like junior point guard Emanuel Ludd and senior guard Aaron Harrison, they should be decent at putting points on the board. Milford’s team will look new after losing in the 3A state title game. Junior point guard Jermaine Goodwyn, senior transfer Deonta Dunlap and big man Darius Woods will lead the way for the Millers. This game has the chance of getting very sloppy, as both teams will look to push the tempo and shoot quick shots.
7:00pm Calvert Hall vs Patterson
The Cardinals will lean very heavily on East Carolina commit Logan Curtis‘ shoulders for pretty much everything this season. Patterson has a trio of guards that should be able to pressure the Cardinals enough to get a win in this match up. Recently reclassified into the class of 2020 TJ Thomas, senior guard Gerard Mungo and junior guard Zack Blackwell all can score from all three levels and love to get out in the open floor. If senior wing Marvin Price is back in shape again coming off his knee injury, it makes the Clippers even heavier favorites. Calvert Hall is going to play extremely hard, but at the end of the day, Patterson is equipped with too much firepower.
9:00 Wilson vs St. Frances
This is the one. The one that we’ve all been waiting for. Arguably the two top teams from Baltimore and D.C. Wilson has the roster to be regarded as a top team in the country with the Mitchell twins, both whom are commited to Maryland. Jay Heath, a senior guard and Boston College commit, is one of the most physical guards you’ll find. Junior guard Diminigus Stevens can score with the best of them and is lethal from three. St. Frances will retaliate with point guard Ace Baldwin at the helm. The junior floor general is one of the best at his position and has plenty of backcourt mates to help make his job easier. Junior guard and football sensation Jordan Toles always provides with high-flying finishes. Jamal West, a junior wing and Dunbar transfer, is a workhorse who will see a plethora of defensive assignments considering all of the threats Wilson throws at their opponents. Senior guard and lockdown defender Rajeir Jones, will likely match up against Stevens. The biggest question here will be whether or not the Panthers can handle the Mitchell twins inside. If they can do that and limit Stevens from having a 25-point outing, they give themselves a great chance to come out with a victory.