Annapolis Panthers
Coach: John Brady. 1993-94 record: 21-3.
Top players: Lenny Barber, 6-8, Sr., C; Ronnie Johnson, 6-3, Sr., F; Damion Day, 6-5, Sr., F; Teshawn Cooper, 5-7, Sr., G; Germaine "Boo" Diggs, 6-7, So., F-C.
Outlook: Despite averaging a county and state record 90.5 points (2,172 in 24 games) and winning the 4A County League, the Panthers failed to make it to the Final Four at Cole Field House for a third straight year. The Panthers hope to end what has been the longest drought in Brady's 17 seasons. Annapolis has won one state title (1990), 11 region and 15 county titles under Brady, whose winning percentage (.849, 356-63) is the highest in county history. Barber, Cooper and Johnson are expected to be, in Brady's words, "the cornerstone of our team because they set a great example with their work ethic and are dependable off the floor." Barber has blossomed after playing more than 50 summer games and signing early for a scholarship to UMBC. Johnson was second-team All-County as a junior, leading the Panthers in scoring (15.3). Cooper is developing into a superb point guard in the vein of graduated Juan Johnson, who was All-County last year. Brady, who will aim to run opponents ragged with 10 players deep and play 13, is also impressed by Day and Diggs, who broke his arm in practice but is expected back around Christmas.
Archbishop Spalding Cavaliers
Coach: Lee Dove. 1993-94 record: 5-15.
Top players: Charles Ross, 6-1, Sr., G; Chad Langville, 6-0, Sr., G; Tim Morris, 6-3, Sr., C; Jason Quarantillo, 5-11, Sr., F; Dominic Lascola, 6-0, Sr., G; Mike Massarini, 5-9, Jr., G; Mike Angelo, 5-8, Jr., G.
Outlook: With his second-leading scorer, Ross (10.3), one of seven veteran seniors, Dove (35-61) expects to contend for the MIAA B Conference title. Spalding was 17-9 two years ago, and Dove has a similarly deep team this season. Newcomer Angelo has taken over at the point, enabling Langville to move to shooting guard. "I don't anticipate any one outstanding player, but rather a lot of depth," said Dove. "We can go to our second-string replacements and not have the talent slack off. We will pressure more on defense this season and do a few things differently on offense. With Severn, Gilman and McDonogh moving up to the A Conference, the B should be wide open and we can be a contender."
Arundel Wildcats
Coach: Gerald Moore. 1993-94 record: 16-8.
Top players: Marquise Farmer, 6-5, Sr., F; Bakari Ward, 5-10, Sr., G; Kevin Higgins, 6-3, Sr., G; Andy Vermillion, 6-2, Jr., F; Darnarian McCants, 6-3, Jr.; Jeff Starr, 6-0, Sr.
Outlook: With a bona fide big man inside (Farmer) and much more depth, Arundel is poised to make a run at the county and East Region titles. Farmer transferred to Arundel by moving into the coach's house after an All-County season in which he averaged 11.2 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.3 blocks and nearly two steals in leading Glen Burnie to the Final Four at College Park. "Marquise is the big man underneath that we didn't have," said Moore (52-61). "And we've got more good people (9-10) after playing five guys most of the time last year. We expect to be there every year." Back is second-team All-County guard Bakari Ward, who averaged 19.4 points as a junior. The scoring should be more balanced with Higgins (10.0), Vermillion, Starr and Oakland Mills transfer McCants. "Bakari can score any time he wants but will spread it around this year," said Moore.
Chesapeake Cougars
Coach: John Spinnenweber. 1993-94 record: 3-19.
Top players: Matt Michalowicz, 6-0, Sr., G; John Jennings, 6-0, Jr., F; Nathan Nelson, 6-3, Sr., F; Mike Richmond, 6-1, Sr., F; Jared Vogt, 6-0, So., G; Dave Dolch, 6-3, Fr., F.
Outlook: Spinnenweber is committed to playing younger players. will get better and hope that our defense can score for us," he said. The Cougars coach intends to play more people, including Vogt and Dolch, a sophomore and freshman, respectively. "Two young kids like that have me excited," said the coach, who will be leaning mainly on Michalowicz for senior leadership. Michalowicz was the point guard as a junior. Chesapeake is hoping to be quicker, especially on defense.
Broadneck Bruins
Coach: Ken Kazmarek. 1993-94 record: 16-6.
Top players: Jason Smith, 6-2, Sr., G; John Williams, 6-4, So., F; Renardo Walker, 6-3, Jr., F; Eric Elston, 5-11, Sr., G; Josh Grover, 6-10, Sr., C; Mike Tasker, 6-1, Jr., F; Jamaine Young, 6-1, Jr., F.
Outlook: Smith, a two-time All-County player and four-year starter, averaged 18.7 points, 5.4 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 2.0 steals as a junior. He is the Bruins' all-time leading scorer (1,162 career points) and has the most career steals (131). Smith could add the career assists (second with 287) record and is fourth in rebounds (385). Walker, who averaged 8.0 points and 6.5 rebounds as a junior, and Williams, who started as a freshman and averaged 10.0 points, are also returning starters. Elston got a lot of time last season and will start this season along with junior newcomer Young. "And when Josh [Grover] develops, he could become a factor inside," said Kazmarek (183-75) of his 6-10 senior. The Bruns play host to Glen Burnie at 7 p.m. tomorrow.
Glen Burnie Gophers
Coach: Terry Bogle. 1993-94 record: 20-5.
Top players: Desmond Dailey, 6-2, Jr., F; Rocky Newton, 6-0, Sr., F; Donnie Thomas, 6-2, Sr., C; Damon Flamer, 6-0, Jr., G; Terry Gaither, 5-10, Jr., G.
Outlook: Last season's Coach of the Year after upsetting Annapolis in the East Region final and earning his first trip to College Park in 26 years, Bogle (267-305) will continue to run an up-tempo style with Dailey the key player. Dailey, third-team All-County as a sophomore, averaged 11.2 points but will be more well-rounded this season. "Desmond has really improved his defense and is better putting the ball on the floor," said Bogle, who said the loss of Farmer to Arundel "makes us smaller, but we have some quickness and once we get a couple players back from academic ineligibility, we hope to run two platoons as we did last season." Bogle also pointed to Newton as "a solid defensive player who will have to play the four position and do some rebounding for us." Gaither takes over at the point for the graduated All-County William "Peanut" Brown, whom Bogle called "the best point guard I've had in my 26 years."
Meade Mustangs
Coach: Butch Young. 1993-94 record: 11-11.
Top players: D'Andre Hiers, 5-11, Sr., G; D. J. Knott, 6-0, Sr., G; Mike Rice, 6-1, Sr., G; Deshawn Brown, 5-9, Jr., G; Lavar Robinson, 6-2, So., C-F.
Outlook: There are only three returnees, just one of whom got a lot of playing time (Hiers, who averaged 11.8 points). "Our scrimmages have been scary," said Young (378-232). "We've got a couple guys with athletic ability, but our kids who played didn't win a single summer league game. That worries me." Knott and Brown got little time last year but will be important this season, and Young is impressed with Rice and Robinson. "Rice could be a sleeper," said Young of the senior playing for the first time. "He was going to come out last year but moved to North Carolina on Nov. 15. He moved back this fall and could help us." The coach is elated that a former player and longtime assistant, Jimmy Meade, has returned after a one-year sabbatical.
Northeast Eagles
Coach: John Barbour. 1993-94 record: 5-17.
Top players: Delray Brooks, 6-1, Sr., G; Jeff Dolch, 6-0, Sr., G; Matt Sutton, 6-3, Sr., C; Mike Eck, 6-0, Sr., F; Brian Mucci, 5-9, Sr., G; Cameron Duff, 6-6, Sr., C; Roy Burns, 6-2, Sr., F; Mike Parker, 5-6, Jr., G.
Outlook: Barbour (164-181), who teaches at Hillsmere Elementary and Georgetown East in the Annapolis area, hopes the Eagles, with seven returning seniors, can post their first winning season since 1990-91. It's the first time in his 19 years as a physical education teacher that Barbour is not in the school. "It's the most experienced team we've had in a few years, and Brooks should be one of the top players in the county," said Barbour. Dolch and Eck also started most of last season, and the other seniors, Sutton, Burns, Mucci and Duff, got some minutes of varsity time. Parker will start at point guard. The Eagles are in a tough region that includes Dunbar, Cambridge-South Dorchester and county teams Southern and South River.