The 695 Top 20 Early Edition
The high school season is finally here and we are all ready for it. I will post updated rankings for the 695 Beltway area every couple of weeks or so. Here is the first edition based off early season results,…
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Continue ReadingThe high school season is finally here and we are all ready for it. I will post updated rankings for the 695 Beltway area every couple of weeks or so. Here is the first edition based off early season results, fall league action and player movement.
1. St. Frances Academy
The Panthers start out where they finished last year, number one. Angel Reese had a great off season, winning a Nike national championship and commiting to Maryland. She should have another dominant season. Her main sidekick is junior guard Aniya Gourdine. Damoni Dorsey and Cori Barnes should play bigger roles this season. The defending champs will not go down easily, if they go down at all.
2. Baltimore Poly
Poly should win 3A this season. Coach Peace brings back the core of her team including senior point guard Cache Wilson (MD- Eastern Shore), senior Jada Gross, and senior Dasia Townes (VCU). She is also adding senior post Ajae Petty (LSU) who transferred in from IND and a couple of impact freshmen in Da’Bryia Clark and Trinity Massenburg. The team is talented and deep.
3. Roland Park
Last year’s IAAM runner up should be right back in the mix. Senior Mir Mclean (UConn) is enough to keep them competitive in most games. She will get help back in the form of senior point guard Rain Greene (VCU) who should be back from her ACL tear in January. They also have junior wing Sophia Diehl who transferred in from Westminster.
4. St. Vincent Pallotti
Pallotti has been the talk of the off season with five transfers coming in. Eniya Russell (South Carolina) comes in from IND and junior Lauryn Russell comes in from Howard. Vashae Rideout transferred from Western and the Sydnor sisters, Larrin and Larri left Catonsville. The Panthers return senior guard Janiah Hall (Monmouth), senior forward Jasmine Valentine and Makayla Waleed. The team is definitely talented and deep but can they put it all together in time? Time will tell.
5. McDonogh
Coach Brad Rees has a very talented but young squad this year. Junior guard Jayla Oden will lead the way and she will have help from sophomore Nekhu Mitchell and talented freshmen Makaela Quimby and Paris Locke. Look for this team to improve as the year goes along reach the IAAM final four.
6. Howard
Howard brings back two potential Howard County player of the year candidates is Marisa Sanchez-Henry (Wagner) and Anii Harris (Salem). This back court will be tough to deal with every game. Sophomore Gabby Scott will hold it down in the paint.
7. PIkesville
Pikesville has two potential Baltimore County player of the year candidates in Kristen Sterling and Charia Roberts (Loyola-MD). That duo will be tough to deal with but they will be without sophomore point guard Amayah Frazier who tore her ACL in the fall. Nakiya Bland, a junior guard transfer from Cape Cod will take up some of those minutes along with senior Francis Glover-Bey. They are now in 2A so their road to the final four will be a little different.
8. River Hill
Coach Teresa Waters brings back her core that won last year’s 2A title. Sophomore guard Anhiya Smith and seniors Kennedy Clark and Saniha Jackson will lead the charge.
9. Western
Western returns their dynamic sophomore guard duo of Ny’ceara Pryor and Gabby Johnson and that gives them a shot in most games. Junior guard Sanaya Gray is back and healthy and the Doves got a talented scorer in Mya Henson via transfer from City.
10. South River
Coach Zivic brings back guards Julia Fitzwater and Harley Herndon as they try to win the Anne Arundel county championship and make noise in 4A.
11. Old Mill
Old Mill will be in the thick of things in Anne Arundel county with seniors Deja Atkinson and Mikiyah Mallett leading the charge. Both can score and have big game experience.
12. Coppin Academy
Junior forward Nyshae Weaver is a big time talent and she is paired with senior Kayla Henderson who is closing in on 1500 career points. They add six foot post Aniya Hills from Randallstown so this should be the year they win 1A.
13. St. Paul’s
I expect this team to rise up the rankings week by week. Senior Destiny Ryles is a handful and hard to stop from scoring and this is a well coached group.
14. Archbishop Spalding
New coach Lisa Smith has rebuilt the excitement around this program and has some ballers to work with. The sister act of Koi and Kamari Sims is legit and they are joined by freshman Mariah Sanabia who looks like a big time talent.
15. Reservoir
Coach Deb Taylor has lost a lot, 8 players in all but she still has senior guard Tiffany Hooker who will be in the conversation for Howard county player of the year.
16. Mt. Carmel
Coach Rob Long has built the program to legitimate B conference contender status. Can they take the next step and reach the finals? 6’3″ post Hawa Doumbaya and sophomore Tsion Smith will play big roles alongside senior Shanysse Alexander and Tam Stanford.
17. Western Tech
Tech will scrap and stay in the mix for the Baltimore county championship. Tiffany Manning and Destini Ward will lead the way
18. Mt. Hebron
Senior Satori Valentine is good enough to keep the Vikings competitive in Howard County. If she gets any help they surprise some people.
19. Forest Park
Every year we overlook Forest Park, but coach Jermaine Dunn always comes up with a group that surprises us. I have a feeling this year will be the same. He lost a lot but picked up some out of town transfers.
20. St. TImothy’s
St. Tim’s has some young talent that is ready to step in and help them win some games. Aryss Mactoon and Andrea Cherisier are legit and should get step into heavy minutes right away.