Welcome to Varsity Sports Network’s 2010 preseason Top 20 boys’ basketball poll. VSN ranks the top teams in the Baltimore region which covers public and private schools in Anne Arundel County, Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Carroll County, Cecil County, Harford County and Howard County.
1. City College (23-2 last season)
Player to watch: Nick Faust, Sr., Guard
Baseline: Knights seek a three-peat in Class 2A states and claim Baltimore City championship.
2. St. Frances Academy (22-9)
Player to watch: Greg Lewis, Sr., Center
Baseline: Two-time defending MIAA A champs want to regain Baltimore Catholic League crown.
3. Patterson (14-7)
Player to watch: Aquille Carr, So., Guard
Baseline: With talented supporting cast around area’s most exciting player in Carr, Clippers are thinking City title as well as Class 4A crown.
4. Mount St. Joseph (30-4)
Player to watch: Cameron Williams, So., Guard
Baseline: Gaels graduated firepower including Eric Atkins (University of Notre Dame), but will be threat in MIAA A/BCL again behind depth of young talent.
5. Digital Harbor (17-4)
Player to watch: Kevin Smith, Sr., Guard
Baseline: Intriguing mix of transfers look to put Rams in the hunt for City title honors as well in Class 2A championship picture.
6. Milford Mill Academy (25-3)
Player to watch: Isaiah McCray, Sr., Guard
Baseline: Defending Class 3A champs are again head of the class in Baltimore County.
7. John Carroll (9-18)
Player to watch: Malcolm McMillian, Sr., Guard
Baseline: Patriots could be ready to make serious run at MIAA A championship.
8. Edmondson (19-3)
Player to watch: Rodney Pratcher, Sr., Guard
Baseline: Red Storm out to prove 2010 City championship was no fluke.
9. Dunbar (19-5)
Player to watch: Iakeem Alston, Jr., Guard
Baseline: Defending Class 1A champ Poets will be a tough out in City league and 1A state title chases.
10. Lake Clifton (15-6)
Player to watch: Anthony Lee, Jr., Guard
Baseline: Lakers lack star power of past couple of seasons, but east Baltimore school may be just as dangerous.
11. Oakland Mills (17-6)
Player to watch: Greg Whittington, Sr., Center
Baseline: Behind one of the area’s top bigs in Whittington, Scorpions are the team to beat in Howard County.
12. Annapolis (20-2)
Player to watch: Delonte Joyce, Sr., Guard
Baseline: Panthers look to run-and-gun their way to another Anne Arundel County championship.
13. Forest Park (6-15)
Player to watch: Quentin Judd, Sr., Forward
Baseline: With three high-scoring transfers from IBE (formerly Walbrook), Forest Park could be the dark horse in a crowded City league field.
14. Old Mill (21-4)
Player to watch: Eric Savage, Sr., Guard
Baseline: Despite key losses, last year’s Class 4A finalists again a threat in Anne Arundel County
15. Archbishop Spalding (8-17)
Player to watch: Greg Brown, Jr., Guard
Baseline: Cavaliers look to make move up MIAA A/BCL standings with three Cardinal Gibbons transfers in fold
16. Southern-Anne Arundel (13-10)
Player to watch: Bryan Harris, Sr., Guard
Baseline: Bulldogs may have Anne Arundel County’s best player in Harris among four returning starters.
17. Havre de Grace (18-5)
Player to watch: Kevin Holloway, 6-5, Junior, Center
Baseline: Warriors may start slow with nucleus still playing football, but defending UCBAC champs could be team to beat in Class 1A North come March
18. Glenelg Country School (18-5)
Player to watch: Isaiah Miles, Jr., Forward
Baseline: Miles and Warren Powers, one of the area’s best underclass tandems, is ready to take Dragons atop MIAA B.
19. Parkville (19-6)
Player to watch: James Milton, Sr., Center
Baseline: Knights again poised to challenge Milford Mill in Baltimore County 3A/4A and Class 3A North.
20. Douglass (16-4)
Player to watch: Dwayne Brewer, Sr., Guard
Baseline: Ducks will be in middle of rugged City league Division I with City College, Digital Harbor, Dunbar, Lake Clifton and Patterson.
