We’re almost to 2021 and there’s still no concrete answer on whether or not there will be a high school season in Baltimore. A handful of meetings have taken place with plenty of target dates discussed, but the fact of the matter is no one knows how quickly students will be able to return to school for in-person learning and that will be a determining factor for officially getting started.
Still, we want to preview the different leagues as if there will be a season within the next few months. We’ll start with the MIAA Black Division.
Headlines
Can Gilman repeat as champions?
-Gilman surged through the back half of their schedule in conference play to eventually be crowned the top seed in the Black Division heading into the postseason. They lost key contributors to graduation, but return junior point guard Christian Winborne
ChristianWinborne6'2" | PGGilman | 2022State#137NationMD, who has a real argument as being one of, if not the, top player in Baltimore. The progression of 2022 Jalen MarshallJalenMarshall6'0" | PGGilman | 2022StateMD helps relieve some pressure from Winborne in the backcourt and others such as 2021 Matt CooperMattCooper6'1" | CGGilman | 2021MD and 2021 Malik MissouriMalikMissouri6'5" | PFGilman | 2021StateMD bring production from the wing
We’re almost to 2021 and there’s still no concrete answer on whether or not there will be a high school season in Baltimore. A handful of meetings have taken place with plenty of target dates discussed, but the fact of the matter is no one knows how quickly students will be able to return to school for in-person learning and that will be a determining factor for officially getting started.
Still, we want to preview the different leagues as if there will be a season within the next few months. We’ll start with the MIAA Black Division.
Headlines
Can Gilman repeat as champions?
-Gilman surged through the back half of their schedule in conference play to eventually be crowned the top seed in the Black Division heading into the postseason. They lost key contributors to graduation, but return junior point guard
Christian Winborne
ChristianWinborne6'2" | PGGilman | 2022State#137NationMD, who has a real argument as being one of, if not the, top player in Baltimore. The progression of 2022
Jalen MarshallJalenMarshall6'0" | PGGilman | 2022StateMD helps relieve some pressure from Winborne in the backcourt and others such as 2021
Matt CooperMattCooper6'1" | CGGilman | 2021MD and 2021
Malik MissouriMalikMissouri6'5" | PFGilman | 2021StateMD bring production from the wing and power forward position. While this year’s Gilman team won’t be as talented as last year, Winborne’s ability to impact a game by himself will keep them in the thick of things at the top of the standings.
Health is key for McDonogh
The Eagles entered last season as a true contender on paper, but it didn’t take long until the injury bug quickly spread throughout key players in their lineup. 2022 forward
Preston HowardPrestonHoward6'5" | PFMcDonogh | 2022StateMD dealt with a couple of different injuries that severely limited his time. 2022
Everett CooperEverettCooper5'10" | PGMcDonogh | 2022MD got off to a hot start before being sidelined for more than half of the season with a leg injury. Cooper and Howard were two starters primed for breakout seasons and would’ve had the Eagles as a top contender not only in the division, but the conference. Instead, 2021 wing
Jared Billups
JaredBillups6'5" | SFMcDonogh | 2021StateMD, 2022 center
Dani Dennis-SuttonDaniDennis-Sutton6'6" | CMcDonogh | 2022StateMD and 2023 point guard
Mathani Paul-SwinsonMathaniPaul-Swinson5'11" | PGMcDonogh | 2023State#143NationMD had to take on the load. Billups, a Siena signee, is at his best when surrounded by shot-makers because of his ability to get into the paint and create. The lack of shooters made things difficult and he had to take on more offensively than he probably should’ve. Dennis-Sutton was relied on to play bulk minutes and be the one true paint presence on the roster while Paul-Swinson was thrown into the fire and expected to produce as a freshman point guard in a league that has plenty of stout talent at the position.
As for this season, Howard makes his return to the lineup along with Billups, Dennis-Sutton and Paul-Swinson. 2023 Carlton Carrington has grown from 5-foot-9 to 6-foot-2 over the summer and should be the outside shooting presence that helps spread the floor while 2024 Gabe Grant is on par to be one of the fantastic freshmen in the area at 6-foot-9. If healthy, this McDonogh team is easily the biggest threat to dethroning Gilman for the top spot in the division.
Never count out Boys’ Latin
If head coach Cliff Rees has proven anything over his tenure at Boys’ Latin, it’s that he can never be overlooked. Rees is a top coach in the DMV and consistently gets the most out of his roster no matter the talent. The Lakers lost the majority of their production to graduation from
Lorenzo DonadioLorenzoDonadio6'3" | SGBoys’ Latin | 2020StateMD and
Kendall WalkerKendallWalker5'11" | PGBoys' Latin | 2020StateMD, but still have pieces that make Rees’ offensive system effective. 2022 guard
Tre GreenTreGreen6'2" | CGBoys' Latin | 2022StateMD would be a name that I expect to take a big step this season after s summer showcasing a more polished game with Team Choo. 2021 Will Spencer gives Rees the floor-spacing presence and decision-maker from the forward slot and 2023 Jake Stout is primed for a solid sophomore campaign after showing flashes a a freshman.
Glenelg Country loses their guy
News broke at the end of November that 2022 wing
Noah Batchelor
NoahBatchelor6'6" | PFGlenelg Country | 2022#218NationFL would be transferring to IMG Academy (FL). In a vacuum, the loss of Batchelor is a huge hit for the Dragons. On top of losing the likes of
Igor Yoka-BrataszIgorYoka-Bratasz6'0" | PGGlenelg Country | 2020StateMD,
Noah CharlesNoahCharles6'0" | PGGlenelg Country | 2020StateMD,
Jarod RobinsonJarodRobinson6'3" | SGGlenelg Country | 2020StateMD and
Jordan Brathwaite
JordanBrathwaite6'6" | CGlenelg Country | 2020StateMD it would likely mean for a bunch of new faces. Head coach Garrett O’Donnell is always diligent about bringing new talent and although I don’t have intel on what that would look like for this year, I’m confident that he would bring in a group who would push teams to their limit. On a positive note from last year’s team, O’Donnell returns a trio of players in 2021
Cole PaarColePaar6'9" | CGlenelg Country | 2021StateMD, 2022 Sam Ejindu and 2022 Garvin Sween who should each be looking to take the next step within the system.
POY Candidates
2022
Christian Winborne
ChristianWinborne6'2" | PGGilman | 2022State#137NationMD (Gilman)
2021
Jared Billups
JaredBillups6'5" | SFMcDonogh | 2021StateMD (McDonogh)
Potential Breakout Prospects
2022
Preston HowardPrestonHoward6'5" | PFMcDonogh | 2022StateMD (McDonogh)
2022
Dani Dennis-SuttonDaniDennis-Sutton6'6" | CMcDonogh | 2022StateMD (McDonogh)
2023
Mathani Paul-SwinsonMathaniPaul-Swinson5'11" | PGMcDonogh | 2023State#143NationMD (McDonogh)
2022
Jalen MarshallJalenMarshall6'0" | PGGilman | 2022StateMD (Gilman)
2021
Jeremiah StantonJeremiahStanton5'11" | PGGerstell Academy | 2021StateMD (Gerstell)
2021
Dayyan NobleDayyanNoble6'1" | SGGerstell | 2021MD (Gerstell)
2022
Samuel EjinduSamuelEjindu6'1" | CGGlenelg Country | 2022StateMD (Glenelg Country)
2022
Garvin Sween Jr.GarvinSween Jr.6'7" | PFGlenelg Country | 2022StateMD (Glenelg Country)
2021 Jordan Trusty-Smith (Annapolis Area Christian)
2022
Dylan LongDylanLong6'2" | CGAnnapolis Area | 2022StateMD (Annapolis Area Christian)