Welcome to the 2013 Enoch Office/Varsity Sports Network 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.
As we progress towards the regular season, we will countdown our 2013 Enoch Office/VSN Boys’ Basketball Preseason Rankings from No. 20 all the way to No. 1.
7. Edmondson Red Storm (click for interviews)
2012-13 record: 22-5 (Class 2A state champions & Baltimore City Division I finalists; No. 5 in final VSN Top 20)
Coach: Darnell Dantzler (6th season)
Returning letter winners – 7
Returning starters – 0
Key returning players – Sean Burke, 6-1, senior, guard; Kani Coles, 6-6, junior forward; Devin Grimes, 6-3, junior, guard; Zadeque Hawkins, 6-1, senior, guard; Dezhan Jones, 6-3, junior, guard/forward; DeAndre Lloyd, 5-8, junior, guard; Robert McClain, 6-6, junior, forward
Key newcomers – Josh Garrett, 6-7, senior, forward; Chaz Lassister, 5-9, senior, guard; Rashad Wattie, 6-3, senior, guard
Outlook – Edmondson will look to contend again for the Baltimore City Division I title and a second straight state crown. The Red Storm exorcised several tough losses from past seasons, including last season (lost twice in overtime to No. 1 Dunbar) to win the program’s first state championship.
The Red Storm will look to Burke, Coles and McClain to lead the way. McClain, a third-year letter winner, started several games last season while Coles (top reserve last season) could be Edmondson’s best player.
Wattie and Garrett, transfers from MIAA A Conference/Baltimore Catholic League stronghold St. Frances Academy, will play significant roles. Dantzler is excited about Western Tech transfer Lassiter running the point.
The Red Storm will be a work in progress after graduating All-Met Darius Walker (Stevenson University), Isaiah Tripp (Future College Prep in California), Darius Hubbard (Virginia Union), Jaquan Smith (Northern Oklahoma College) and Myrek Fowkles (Action Sports Academy in Georgia). Edmondson moves down to Class 1A this season.
“It’s going to be some learning curves,” said Dantzler, last season’s VSN Coach of the Year. “Hopefully, we’ll be in the thick of things by the end of the season.”
2013-14 schedule
Dec. 5 at FAET
Dec. 7 vs. Theodore Roosevelt (D.C.), Baltimore/D.C. Challenge at Lake Clifton
Dec. 10 at FAST
Dec. 12 vs. Capitol Christian Academy, Spark at the Park Mixer at Forest Park
Dec. 13 vs. Woodlawn at Spark at the Park
Dec. 17 vs. ACCE
Dec. 26-29 Governor’s Challenge at Wicomico Civic Center
Jan. 3 vs. Douglass
Jan. 7 vs. Dunbar
Jan. 10 at Poly
Jan. 21 vs. Ben Franklin/Masonville Academy
Jan. 24 vs. New Town at Basketball Academy at Morgan State University
Jan. 25 vs. Eleanor Roosevelt at Basketball Academy
Jan. 28 vs. Lake Clifton
Jan. 30 vs. Forest Park
Feb. 4 at Digital Harbor
Feb. 7 vs. City College
Feb. 14 vs. Mervo
Feb. 18 at Patterson
