Two area high school boys basketball players made the Naismith Trophy Boys High School Player of the Year watch list, which was announced earlier in the week by the Atlanta Tipoff Club.

Lake Clifton senior point guard Josh Selby and former Lake Clifton forward Will Barton, now playing at Brewster Academy in New Hampshire, are two of 10 players in contention for the award.

The watch list was compiled by basketball writers from around the country who form the national voting academy. In February, the voting academy will narrow the list to five players, with the winner being selected and recognized at the end of the high school basketball season.

"It says a lot about basketball right now in Baltimore and the players we have here at Lake Clifton," Lakers coach Herman "Tree" Harried said. "It opens the eyes of people [to] the quality student-athletes we have in the building and lets them know good things are happening both academically and athletically."

Last season, Barton led the Lakers to a 28-0 season and the Class 3A state championship, earning All-Metro Player of the Year honors. Selby transferred to Lake Clifton this season after averaging 16 points and eight rebounds at DeMatha last year. Barton is set to play at Memphis next year, while Selby is considering Kansas, Kentucky, Indiana and Syracuse.

- Glenn Graham