Public schools
Atholton Raiders
1997-98 record: 19-4 overall, 16-2 league
Coach: Jim Albert
Top players: Brian Boykins, Sr., F; Eddie Lopez, Sr., G; Jason Allmond, Sr., G/F; Angel Cotto, Sr., G; Steve Eureste, Jr., G; Richard Raynor, Sr., F; Steve Waddy, Sr., F
Outlook: The Raiders have won four of the last five county titles. They have a shot to repeat as county champs but face strong competition from Oakland Mills and Mount Hebron. Boykins averaged 16.5 points and 8.1 rebounds, blocked 43 shots, shot 68 percent at the foul line and 54 percent from the floor. The 6-foot-4 player is rugged on the boards, has strong inside moves and a soft perimeter shot and was first-team All-County. Allmond, 6-3, is also a returning starter who averaged 10 points, is strong to the hoop and was second-team All-County. Lopez was a back-up guard. Eureste is up from JV and can shoot and handle the ball. Raynor is a 6-3 transfer from Texas who will be a swing man. "We can put five on the court right now, but how well we do depends on how quickly the others come around," said Albert, whose team won 16 of 17 games down the stretch last season. This is Albert's 19th season, and he likes his teams to play an up-tempo offense and pressing defense.
Centennial Eagles
1997-98 record: 13-11 overall, 10-8 league
Coach: Jim Hill
Top players: Rob Mentz, Sr., F; Brian O'Connor, Soph., G; Don Swann, Sr., C; Phil Kirakofe, Jr., F; Kevin Laycock, Soph., F; Scott Kincaid, Soph., G; Ryan Myers, Jr., F
Outlook: The Eagles graduated seven but return Mentz, O'Connor and Swan. Only Mentz was a starter. No one is taller than 6-foot-3, and muscle in the front court is lacking on this team with only two seniors. On the plus side, the Eagles had a 17-3 JV last season. They will shoot and pass well and stress team play.
Glenelg Gladiators
1997-98 record: 5-18 overall, 3-18 league
Top players: Brandon Robertson, Sr., G; Jeff Starcher, Sr., G; Eric Breland, Soph., F; Davis Huber, Sr., C; Chris Bowen, Soph., F; Curan Oatts, Sr., G; Mike Darling, Soph., C
Outlook: Three starters return. Robertson, a captain and third-year starter, averaged 10.7 points and four assists and sank 31 three-point baskets. The 5-foot-8 point guard is a 4.0 student. Starcher, Player of the Year in baseball, averaged 16.1 points and was second-team All-County. Breland, at 6-5 and 215 pounds, averaged 10 points and five rebounds and blocked 37 shots. Huber is 6-6. Bowen is a 6-3 left-handed slasher with a great finish whose father, Bob, is assistant coach and a former Maryland player. Darling is 6-5. The Gladiators have size and shooting but must work on defense and team play.
Hammond Golden Bears
1997-98 record: 13-10 overall, 11-7 league
Coach: Mark Murray
Top players: Datren Awkward, Soph., G; David Hines, Sr., F; Keith Fanjoy, Sr., C; Jason Harriman, Jr., G; Chris Breedlove, Jr., F; Damien Jones, Soph., F; David Blevins, Jr., F
Outlook: Hines is the lone returning starter. Four of the top seven are up from JV. Fanjoy, although 6-8, is a first-year player. Jones did not play last season. Hammond must play with intensity to compensate for inexperience. And it must concentrate on defense. "We'll try to force 20-25 turnovers and go for the fast break," Murray said. "They think they can do it."
Howard Lions
1997-98 record: 10-13 overall, 8-10 league
Coach: Art St. Martin
Top players: Nathan Eads, Soph. C; Derrick Weatherspoon, Soph., G; Ron Coursey, Sr., F; Lamont Thompson, Sr., F; Maurice Clarke, Sr., G; Huguens Jean, Sr., G; Patrick Carroll, Sr., C.
Outlook: They're quick. They've responded well to their new coach, a proven winner. They would like more height, although Eads is 6-7 and Carroll 6-4. Jean is an excellent shooter. They are being well conditioned and will look to defense as a team strength. Five who saw playing time last winter return. The Lions should show improvement.
Long Reach Lightning
1997-98 record: 17-9 overall, 13-5 league
Coach: Al Moraz
Top players: Devin Conwell, Jr., F; Tally White, Jr., F; Robert Francois, Jr., F; Kerry Sims, Jr., F/G; Ed Collins, Sr., F; Jim McCleary, Jr., G; Mike Holmes, Jr., F
Outlook: Conwell averaged 11 points and 10 rebounds, but the Lightning has no replacement for graduated point guard Chris Smith, Player of the Year, and his 20-point average. Collins, a 6-3 transfer from Ohio, may help. McCleary, Holmes and Jones are up from JV. Sims, Francois and White are returnees; only White started last season. Moraz has work to do to reach the level of the past two teams, a 1997 state runnerup and last winter's region finalist. "We hope to be in the middle of the pack in the county," he said.
Mount Hebron Vikings
1997-98 record: 8-14 overall, 7-11 league
Coach: Scott Conroy
Top players: Joey Armstead, Sr., G; Bob Bergin, Sr., F; Brian Williams, Sr., F; Eric Tobak, Soph., C; Kwasi Osei-Wusu, Sr., F; Matt White, Soph., F; Saad Chaudry, Sr., F
Outlook: Armstead averaged nine points and is a capable point guard. Bergin and Tobak will be 6-5 targets underneath. Williams is 6-2 and can jump. All four were starters, although Tobak missed much of the year with an injury. That gives the Vikings experience and size. Mount Hebron won six of its last eight league games and hopes to continue playing as well or better. "We have a lot of people who like to slash to the basket," Conroy said, "and we'll be going inside all season." The Vikings are expected to be one of the league's top three teams with Oakland Mills and Atholton.
Oakland Mills Scorpions
1997-98 record: 14-10 overall, 12-6 league
Coach: Dave Appleby
Top players: Murray Graves, Sr., F; Anthony Breland, Sr., F; Thomas Browne, Sr., G; Mike Price, Sr., G; Joey Ellis, Sr., G; Gume Thordarson, Sr., C; Robert Roche, Jr., G
Outlook: This is more talent than has been assembled on one county team in a long while. Graves, 6-5, averaged 19 points and nine rebounds despite double-teaming. Breland, also 6-5, was ineligible last season but averaged 15 points and seven rebounds as a sophomore. Browne averaged nine points last season. Price averaged four assists. Ellis is a strong complementary player. Icelander Thordarson is a 6-5 back-up, and Roche was the Scorpions' best JV player. Barfield is a quick transfer from Atlanta. In addition, the team picked up two talented players from Long Reach, Davon Smith and Cyril Chesson. If the Scorpions can accept individual roles, play unselfishly and develop cohesiveness, a Class 1A state championship is within reach.
River Hill Hawks
1997-98 record: 8-15 overall, 5-13 league
Coach: Tom Schneider
Top players: Jay Kreider, Sr. G; John Alascio, Sr., F; Steve Glasgow, Sr., F; Justin Brewer, Jr., G; Levi Haslip, Sr., G; Matt McCathorine, Jr., G; Todd Tedrow, Jr., F
Outlook: Lack of size will require the Hawks to play intelligently and unselfishly and shoot well. This team is experienced. Most have played varsity for three years, so the cohesiveness is good. Kreider, at 6-2, averaged 17 points. Alascio averaged 7.5 rebounds and 10 points. Brewer averaged 9.6 points. The Hawks play good man-to-man defense and need to hold opponents below 50 points. They won two games two years ago and eight games last season. They hope to show improvement and perhaps challenge the top teams.
Wilde Lake Wildecats
1997-98 record: 7-16 overall, 5-13 league
Coach: Lester Clay
Top players: David Martin, Sr., G/F; Geneo Colston, Jr., F/C; Nyema Wilson, Jr., F; Jerome Parkinson, Sr., F; Chad Foster, Jr., G; Hugo Linares, Jr., G; Brandon McCreary, Sr., G
Outlook: Clay has been hospitalized 10 days for tests at Johns Hopkins related to weakness in his arms. Retired former Wildecats coach Frank Rhodes, 66, is the interim coach. Martin, 6-2, is a good jump shooter who was ineligible last season and should more than replace graduated Tim Hawken's 14 points a game. Parkinson, 6-4, is a strong, second-year player. McCreary has experience at point guard. Linares is a shooting guard with good skills. Wilson, 6-4, and point guard Foster are up from JV. Colston, 6-1, is a 250-pounder from the football team. The Wildecats have talent but need to develop cohesiveness and confidence following a disappointing season.
Private schools
Chapelgate Christian Flames
1997-98 record: 16-9 overall, 8-5 league
Coach: Gary Berwager
Top players: Chris Davidson, Sr., G; John Ring, Sr., F; Ben Byrd, Sr., G; Scott Saulsbury, Sr., F; John Bennett, Jr., F; Matt Tigert, Sr., G; Esosa Imoisili, Jr., F
Outlook: The Flames return four from last winter's third-place team in the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association C Conference. Chris Davidson, a 6-1, 170-pounder who averaged 20.1 points last season, is the team's main strength. He has scored 1,600 career points. Ring averaged 7.7 points and seven rebounds. Byrd is the best defensive player. Bennett and Tigert, a point guard, both transferred from Montrose Christian. Imoisili is a 6-foot-6, 200-pounder from Nigeria. "We'll have more size," Berwager said. "The question is whether we can get them to play as a team."
Glenelg Country School
1997-98 record: 19-5 overall, 9-4 league
Coach: John Aquila
Top players: Jason Greenberg, Jr., G; Garth DeAngelis, Sr., F; C. J. Bowles, Jr., C; Matt Woodford, Jr., G; Dare' Ogunsolaju, Jr., F; Andrew Garthoff, Jr., F
Outlook: The Dragons came within two points of winning the MIAA C Conference championship last season and return three starters, Greenberg, DeAngelis and Bowles. Greenberg averaged 15.3 points, DeAngelis 10.8 points and Greenberg seven points. The team has decent height; all five starters are 6-2 or taller, and DeAngelis, an All-MIAA C Conference pick, is 6-5. The Dragons upgraded their schedule, adding Loyola, Liberty and the Cardinal Gibbons tournament. They should challenge for the conference title again.
Pub Date: 12/04/98