The boys basketball season has started for the private schools, and the public schools will begin play Friday. That means it's time to start rolling out the projections for this season's top teams.
In the coming days, you can go to Varsity Letters for a countdown of the top five. The area's preseason No. 1-ranked team will be posted Thursday. The entire Top 15 poll, along with the top players to watch, will be available online Thursday night and in Friday's print edition.
Here's a look at No. 5 Edmondson:
Coach: Darnell Dantzler
Last season: 20-5, No. 4
Postseason: Class 1A state champion
Top players: Kani Coles, Sr., F; Robert McClain, Sr., F; DeAndre Lloyd, Sr., G; Keandre Cook, Sr., F
Outlook: The senior laden Red Storm is primed for a second straight Class 1A championship
and will be in the mix for the Baltimore City crown as well. Dantzler said he'll be leaning heavily on the versatile Coles, who showed glimpses of being able to dominate at times last season and has further
matured this season. If opposing defenses pay too much attention on Coles, the Red Storm has plenty of other options. McClain is another experienced inside force and the addition of Cook, a transfer from
Northwestern, gives the team a valuable commodity on the wing. Edmondson is known for scrappy point guards that bring energy and leadership, and it's Lloyd's turn to claim the role. He'll need to take care of the ball, find teammates and bring stability. The talk in Baltimore City is Edmondson, Patterson and Lake Clifton are the early frontrunners. What could separate the Red Storm from the rest is its continuity and last year's championship experience.