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The DeMatha High School basketball team enjoyed another banner season in 2008-09, winning 32 games — the third most in school history — and capturing another Washington Catholic Athletic Conference championship.
Despite graduation and the loss of several top players, the Stags could be better this winter.
DeMatha graduated only four seniors including Naji Hibbert (Texas A&M), a Gazette-Star All-County First Team selection, and Marcus Rouse (Stony Brook). Josh Selby, ranked by Rivals.com as the fourth-best recruit in the nation in the Class of 2010, left the program last spring and is playing for Baltimore's Lake Clifton High.
But the Hyattsville school is hardly devoid of talent. Senior guard Victor Oladipo, who signed with Indiana University last month, and Notre Dame-bound guard Jerian Grant lead the way. Junior guard Quinn Cook is ranked No. 20 in the Class of 2011 by Rivals, and was a member of the U.S. National 16-and-under team that won the FIBA Americas U-16 tournament in Argentina over the summer.
As a freshman last season, James Robinson provided several clutch moments during the Stags' charge to the WCAC title last winter. North Carolina A&T signee Justin Black will provide veteran stability to a dynamic backcourt. Junior center/forward Mikael Hopkins, who is 6-foot-8, will be the Stags' main threat in the paint, and is ranked among the nation's top 50 players in his class.
The Stags will have a challenging schedule, including dates with Baltimore Catholic League champ St. Frances Academy this month and national power Mater Dei from California in January. DeMatha coach Mike Jones, starting his eighth season, said this could be his best squad.
"We will have tremendous balance," Jones said. "Guard play will be as good as we have ever had, and our inside game will be dominant on both ends of the floor."
Bladensburg
The Mustangs (11-12 last season) look to be a factor in the wide-open County 4A League. They will have one of the county's better backcourts with senior Jovan Jordan and Timmy Shields.
Mustangs' coach Jim Butler is hoping 6-8 center Patrick Bridges will be a threat in the low post after a strong offseason. Junior guards Diago Williams and Greg Reed LaFortune also return.
Butler has been impressed with senior newcomer Dejuan Pierre. Junior forward Josh Wade joins the varsity team after playing on the JV squad last winter. The Mustangs open at Crossland on Tuesday, and will play in the inaugural Maryland National Hoops Classic at Henry A. Wise during the Christmas break.
"We have scorers, but no real big man. The guards will have to rebound," Butler said. "We have some inexperience but we'll do all right. The league lost a lot of seniors, so it'll be wait and see."
Eleanor Roosevelt
The Raiders have been the county's model of consistency, reaching the 4A South Region final every year this decade except for 2005. The Greenbelt school (18-7 last season) may be hard-pressed to maintain that standard this season. The Raiders have just one returning starter — 6-4 sophomore forward Shaun Miller.
Junior guard Prince Okorh moves into a starting role after being the top reserve last season. Senior guards David Abraham and Martrell Wood also return.
Senior 6-8 center Alex Bates will provide a post presence for Roosevelt coach Brendan O'Connell, who will have several players promoted from last year's junior varsity team. With the upper half of the County 4A League hit hard by graduation, O'Connell said the Raiders should again be in the mix.
"We're very inexperienced, but we have some talent and depth," said O'Connell, whose team lost to Henry A. Wise in the region final last winter. "How well we defend, especially early, will tell a lot."
High Point
After being in a constant state of flux under a couple of different coaches in the early part of the decade, High Point appears to have stability under Robert Moore. In his second season last winter, Moore guided the Beltsville school to a 12-11 mark after the Eagles won just three games in the 2007-08 season.
The Eagles return one starter in senior guard/forward Travis Baker, with returning letter-winners in senior guard Ben Minh and junior forward Joseph Thompson. Junior point guard Dominique Fortune, who missed last season because of academic reasons, will run the offense.
Ed Oliver, a 6-6 junior transfer from DeMatha, should provide a post presence along with senior forward Jevan Hayden. Senior Jalen Smith and junior Miles Gardner will contribute in the backcourt.
"It's about being consistent, playing hard and maintaining a certain level of energy," said Moore, whose team opens Friday against Howard County stronghold Long Reach. "I think we're going to surprise some people."
Northwestern
The Wildcats are hoping they have pieces in place to be a contender in the County 4A League. The Hyattsville school (6-15 last season) has two returning starters among four letter-winners with 6-7 junior forward/center Obi Oleka and senior guard Khahid Tate.
Wildcats' coach Terrance Burke Sr. said 6-6 freshman forward/center Emanuel Obigno has standout potential, and junior guard Torre Sommerville returns to run the offense after spending his sophomore year at Veritas Sports Academy in North Carolina. Sommerville played for the Wildcats as a freshman in 2007-08.
Sophomore Nicholas Speller, a transfer from St. John's (D.C.) will bolster the backcourt along with varsity holdovers Mike Reynolds and Paul Fon. Sophomore guard Jalen Prince and junior forward/center Joe Johnson move up from junior varsity.
"We're going to be strong in every position," said Burke, who takes over full-time in place of Gerald Moore, who died of a heart attack last December. "We're going to have one year together and the seniors are going to have to jell. It's going to be about realizing that we can win and changing the direction of the program."
Parkdale
For the Panthers, there's nowhere to go but up after an 0-23 campaign last season. The Riverdale school returns junior guard Adrian Strong and senior forward/center Carvin Hines, who started several games last winter.
Forwards Julian Henry (a 6-4 senior) and Andrew Green (a 6-4 junior) will have increased roles after being promoted from the junior varsity team late last season. Senior guard Seth Pearson and freshman Deontay Bloomfield are newcomers.
The Panthers have lost 31 consecutive games since beating Bowie on Jan. 19, 2007. Parkdale coach Tremaine Price expects more cohesion after assuming the position just before the start of last season.
"It was tough getting things together, we were very young and inexperienced," said Price, a 1997 Parkdale gradate. "We'll be much improved. Adrian Strong has looked good and I'm expecting big things."
