BCL News

June 26, 2024

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FORMER BCL STAR CARLTON CARRINGTON III SELECTED NO. 14 BY PORTLAND IN 2024 NBA DRAFT

Carrington is second St. Frances and 16th BCL player chosen all-time

BALTIMORE – Former St. Frances star Carlton Carrington III, a two-time All-BCL player in 2021-22 and 2022-23, was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers at No. 14 overall in the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft, held in Brooklyn, N.Y.

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Carrington's draft rights were then traded to the Washington Wizards in a draft-day trade that is yet to be officially completed.

 

Carrington, who played one year collegiately at Pitt and was a 2023-24 ACC All-Rookie Team selection, is the 16th BCL-affiliated player to be chosen in the NBA Draft since the league's founding for the 1971-72 season. He is also the BCL's ninth first-round pick all-time, and the fourth first rounder for the league in the past five NBA Drafts (2020-24).

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Carrington was a  second-team All-BCL player as a junior in 2021-22 and a first-team All-BCL performer as a senior in 2022-23 after transferring to St. Frances from McDonogh. He was selected to the 2023 BCL All-Tournament Team and was also selected All-Tournament at the Alhambra National Catholic Invitational Tournament in 2022.

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Carrington is the second NBA selection from St. Frances as Mark Karcher was selected by the 76ers in the second round at No. 48 overall in 2000. Carrington looks to join four other current BCL alumni who played in the NBA this past season - Damion Lee (Utah Jazz; Calvert Hall), Immanuel Quickley (New York Knicks; John Carroll) , Jalen Smith (Indiana Pacers; Mount St. Joseph) and Cam Whitmore (Houston Rockets; Archbishop Spalding).

 

The BCL has had at least one player selected in each of the last five decades (1980s-2020s).

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The full BCL in the NBA history is available by clicking here.

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May 7, 2024

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BALTIMORE CATHOLIC LEAGUE TO HONOR 2024 HALL OF FAME CLASS ON JUNE 20

Ceremony at Turf Valley Resort; Arkansas head coach John Calipari is guest speaker; Tickets/tables on sale via BCLBasketball.com

BALTIMORE – The Baltimore Catholic League will honor 10 former greats as they are inducted into the BCL Hall of Fame on June 20 during a banquet at Turf Valley Resort in Ellicott City (2700 Turf Valley Road, Ellicott City).

 

Doors at Turf Valley Resort will open at 6 pm for the event, and there will be an open bar before the banquet begins at 7 pm. Individual tickets ($125) and tables of 10 ($1100) are available by clicking the link on the front of BCLBasketball.com.

 

The 2024 BCL Hall of Fame Class includes: Will Bowers – Archbishop Spalding (2003), Chris Clunie – Loyola (2002), Tim Coles – Cardinal Gibbons (1982), Bobby Connor – Mount St. Joseph (1967), Malcolm Delaney – Towson Catholic (2007), Mark Kauffman – Calvert Hall (1982), James Martin – Administrator – St. Maria Goretti, John Miller – Mount St. Joseph (1986), Sean Mosley – St. Frances (2008) and Immanuel Quickley – John Carroll (2018).

 

Arkansas head coach John Calipari, who coached Quickley during his time at the University of Kentucky, will be the keynote speaker at the event.

 

Sponsorship opportunities are also available for the 2024 BCL Hall of Fame banquet. For more information, contact Mark Rohde via email at mrohde1@comcast.net or 410-963-0534.

 

The seventh BCL Hall of Fame class of 10 inductees joins 72 previous honorees who were enshrined in 2011, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2023.

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April 18, 2024

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ST. MARY’S HIGH SCHOOL ACCEPTS BCL

ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP INVITATION

Five-time conference champ Saints to play in the 2025 BCL Tournament
BCL to play as seven-team league during 2024-25 regular season

BALTIMORE – Annapolis’ St. Mary’s High School has accepted an invitation from the Baltimore Catholic League to become an associate member of the BCL for the 2024-25 season, beginning July 1, 2024.

 

The Saints, five-time MIAA B Conference champions (2003, 2007, 2009, 2022, 2023), will participate in the 2025 Baltimore Catholic League tournament as the No. 8 seed. This is the ninth time the BCL has invited a school outside of the league to participate in the BCL Tournament, joining John Carroll (1974), Archbishop Spalding (1977, 1978, 1997), St. Maria Goretti (1983, 1984), Archbishop Curley (1994) and Mount Carmel (2011). John Carroll, Archbishop Spalding, St. Maria Goretti and Mount Carmel eventually all became full BCL members, while Archbishop Curley was a former league member that played in the tournament the year after withdrawing from the BCL.

 

For the 2024-25 regular season, St. Mary’s will continue to compete in the MIAA B Conference. Seven schools (Archbishop Spalding, Calvert Hall, John Carroll, Loyola, Mount Carmel, Mount St. Joseph and St. Frances) will comprise the BCL for its 54th season of play in 2024-25, as the league will play its traditional double round-robin schedule. The BCL was reduced to seven full members with the upcoming closure of St. Maria Goretti in Hagerstown after 70 years of operation and 40 seasons in the BCL.

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The Saints have had a lot of success in boys’ basketball in recent years, as head coach Trey Quinn, a St. Mary’s alum, has led the Saints to a 98-82 overall record in seven seasons, including a 51-1 mark in MIAA B Conference games and a 64-18 overall record from 2020-23 with back-to-back B titles in 2022 and 2023. The Saints were ranked 10th in the final Top 15 poll in 2022 and 11th in the final Top 15 poll in 2023 by the Baltimore Sun. As a player at St. Mary’s, Quinn was a part of two MIAA B title teams in 2007 and 2009.

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Located along Spa Creek and just a few steps away from City Dock in Historic Annapolis, St. Mary’s School and St. Mary’s High School have a long tradition as a parish school founded in 1862 by the Redemptorists and the School Sisters of Notre Dame, and the school serves students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. The campus features the spectacular St. Mary’s Church as well as the historic home and gardens of Charles Carroll, the only Catholic signer of the Declaration of Independence. St. Mary’s features a strong Catholic identity and spiritual formation, outstanding athletics, superb artistic production and performing arts, and rigorous academic preparation.  Students are guided in innovative programs that prepare them for the 21st century in STEM, environmental studies, cybersecurity, dual enrollment with Notre Dame of Maryland University and robust service and outreach, in step with the charism of the Redemptorist order. St. Mary’s sponsors 15 sports for boys and girls, and over 425 student-athletes and 80 coaches participate on 36 athletic teams.

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“Accepting the invitation from the Baltimore Catholic League to become an associate member of the league is a tremendous positive step for St. Mary's, as an institution and as an athletic program,” said St. Mary’s school president Dr. Andrew Moore. “As a school that is on the rise in so many ways, being associated with the premier high school basketball conference in the nation comes at the perfect time for us here in Annapolis.”

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“St. Mary’s brings a tradition of Catholic School excellence in the classrooms and on the basketball court, and the Baltimore Catholic League is thrilled to add them as an associate member,” said BCL Commissioner Jack Degele. “We are impressed with the school’s growth and success in recent years, and behind the strong commitment of the school administration and athletic department, the basketball program under Trey Quinn has made great strides forward. We look forward to seeing the Saints compete for the 2025 BCL Tournament title.”

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March 3, 2024

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53RD BALTIMORE CATHOLIC LEAGUE TOURNAMENT, PRESENTED BY BROOKS FINANCIAL GROUP - CHAMPIONSHIP GAME PREVIEW

No. 4 seed Archbishop Spalding (23-9) vs. No. 2 seed St. Frances (25-12)

Sunday, March 3 – 3 pm – Decker SRC Arena (Goucher College)

BALTIMORE – It will be a matchup of No. 4 vs. No. 2 for the fifth time in Baltimore Catholic League Tournament championship game history – the No. 4 Archbishop Spalding Cavaliers (23-9 overall; 8-6 in the BCL), playing the BCL title game for the first time since 2013, and the No. 2 seed St. Frances Panthers (25-12 overall, 9-5 BCL), playing for the title for the first time since 2022. The teams meet for the BCL Tournament championship for the second time (1999).

 

The championship game of the 53rd BCL Tournament, presented by Brooks Financial Group game is set for 3 pm at Goucher College’s Decker SRC Arena, home to the title game for the 12th time, second most in BCL history.

 

In the preliminary game, No. 2 seed Mount St. Joseph will face No. 1 seed St. Frances for the junior varsity title at 1 pm.

 

2024 BCL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

4 Archbishop Spalding vs. 2 St. Frances – 3 pm

2024 BCLT First Round Results: Archbishop Spalding 82, St. Maria Goretti 79; St. Frances 76, John Carroll 62

2024 BCLT Semifinal Results: AS 60, Mount St. Joseph 48; SFA 58, Mount Carmel 52

2023-24 BCL Meetings: Teams split the season series 1-1. St. Frances won 70-63 on December 13 at Severn, and Archbishop Spalding won 67-64 at Chase Street on January 31.

BCL Tournament Series: St. Frances leads 5-3 (with a three-game win streak), and the Panthers won the last BCLT meeting against AS (SFA 57, AS 55 – 3/5/23 – First Round); last AS victory in the BCLT series – AS 57, SFA 56 – 2/26/07 – First Round)

BCLT Championship Appearances: AS – 7th appearance (3-3 in championship games); SF – 16th appearance (10-5 in championship games).

Last BCLT Championship: AS – 2002 (AS 45, St. Maria Goretti 36 – 2/25/02); SFA – 2020 (SFA 81, Mount St. Joseph 65 – 3/1/20)

Previous BCLT Championship Game Meetings: One (1999) – AS 57, SFA 49 (3/1/99)

BCLT Championship Game Record by Seed: No. 4 seeds are 0-5 (no No. 4 seed has ever won the BCLT); No. 2 seeds are 13-24 (last No. 2 champion – Mount St. Joseph 2022)

No. 4 vs. No. 2: No. 2 seeds are 4-0 vs. No. 4 seeds in the BCLT championship game (last No. 2 seed to beat a No. 4 – 2 Mount St. Joseph 73, 4 Archbishop Spalding 56 – 2/25/13)

Coaches in BCLT: AS-Josh Pratt (9-7 in 9 seasons combined at Towson Catholic and Archbishop Spalding with 1 title (Towson Catholic – 2007). Pratt is 4-4 in five seasons at AS (will try to become the second coach to win a title at two different BCL schools); SFA-Nick Myles (21-9 in 13 seasons at St. Frances).

Coaches in BCLT Championship Game: Pratt (1-1 in two appearances, both at Towson Catholic in 2006 and 2007); Myles (3-2; sixth appearance ties BCL Hall of Famer Mark Amatucci for sixth-most in BCLT history).

 

What follows below is a list of “what if’s” for each of the two teams in the finals.

 

BCL TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONSHIP GAME "WHAT IF'S"

 

If No. 4 seed Archbishop Spalding wins ...

• The Cavaliers would have a 25-9 overall record and earn their first BCL Tournament title since 2002.

• Archbishop Spalding would win its 4th Baltimore Catholic League Tournament title (1999-2000, 2002).

• Spalding would be the FIRST No. 4 seed to win the BCL title (No. 4 seeds are 0-5 in the championship game all-time entering Sunday’s final).

• The Cavaliers would improve the record of No. 4 seeds in the BCLT title game to 1-5 (.167).

• Archbishop Spalding would improve its all-time BCLT record to 22-26 (.458) in 48 games in 30 BCL Tournaments (AS played as an invited team to the BCLT in 1977, 1978 and 1997 and joined as a full BCL member in 1997-98).

• Head coach Josh Pratt would earn his 2nd Baltimore Catholic League Tournament title (Towson Catholic – 2007), and his first at Archbishop Spalding.

• Pratt would become the second BCL coach all-time to win BCLT titles at two different schools (would join Tony Martin, who won titles at Archbishop Spalding and John Carroll).

• Pratt would become the third Spalding coach to win a BCL Tournament title, joining Tony Martin in 1999 and Mike Glick in 2000 and 2002).

• Pratt would win his 3rd combined BCL regular-season (one) or BCL Tournament title (two) of his career.

• Pratt would improve his BCLT record to 10-7 (.588) in 17 games in nine seasons overall at TC and AS and 5-4 (.556) in five seasons at Archbishop Spalding.

• Pratt would improve his BCLT championship record to 2-1, with a 1-0 title game record vs. St. Frances.

• Archbishop Spalding would improve its overall BCLT record vs. St. Frances to 4-5 and will break a three-game losing streak in the BCLT series against the Panthers.

• he Cavaliers would be 2-0 in BCL Tournament championship games over the Panthers (1999, 2024).

 

Regardless of result Sunday, The Cavaliers will participate in the 2024 Maryland Private School State Tournament in the quarterfinal round on Tuesday, March 3 (5:20 pm) at Spalding as the No. 4 seed vs. No. 5 seed Mt. Zion Prep.

 

If No. 2 seed St. Frances wins ...

• The Panthers would finish their season with a 26-12 record and earn their first BCL Tournament title since 2020.

• St. Frances would win its record-extending 11th BCL Tournament title (1990, 1995-97, 2005, 2008-09, 2018-20, 2024).

• The Panthers would improve the record of No. 2 seeds in the BCLT title game to 14-24 (.368).

• St. Frances would improve their all-time BCLT record to 53-25 (.679) – second-most victories in BCLT history by a school.

• Head coach Nick Myles would earn his fourth tournament title and his first since 2022.

•  Myles would tie BCL Hall of Famers Mike Daniel and Cokey Robertson for the fifth-most BCLT titles all-time (four).

•  Myles would improve his BCLT championship record to 4-2, 1-0 vs. Archbishop Spalding.

•  Myles would improve his BCL Tournament record to 22-9 (.710) – would be the highest win percentage among BCL coaches with 20 or more tournament games.

• St. Frances would improve their BCLT series record over Archbishop Spalding to 6-3 all-time (fourth consecutive victory in the series).

• St. Frances would improve to 1-1 against the Cavaliers in BCL Tournament championship games.

 

The winner of the Baltimore Catholic League Tournament receives possession of the Brother D. John Smith FSC Memorial Trophy, named for the second president of the BCL from 1973-76 who served as the athletic director at Calvert Hall. After the championship game, the five-member All-Tournament Team will be announced, and the BCL Tournament MVP will receive the John M. Plevyak Most Valuable Player Award, named for the longtime Mount St. Joseph athletic director who was instrumental in the founding of the BCL. The Dan Popera Sportsmanship Award, re-named for the BCL Hall of Fame coach who passed away a year ago, will also be handed out.

 

53RD BALTIMORE CATHOLIC LEAGUE TOURNAMENT,

PRESENTED BY BROOKS FINANCIAL GROUP

(Decker Sports and Recreation Center Arena; Goucher College)

Friday, March 1

First Round

2 St. Frances 76. 7 John Carroll 62

3 Mount Carmel 63, 6 Loyola 46

1 Mount St. Joseph 81, 8 Calvert Hall 56

5 Archbishop Spalding 82, 4 St. Maria Goretti 79

 

Saturday, March 2

Semifinals

4 Archbishop Spalding 60, 1 Mount St. Joseph 48

2 St. Frances 58, 3 Mount Carmel 52

 

Sunday, March 3

Championship

4 Archbishop Spalding vs. 2 St. Frances - 3 pm

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February 27, 2024

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53RD BALTIMORE CATHOLIC LEAGUE TOURNAMENT, PRESENTED BY
BROOKS FINANCIAL GROUP SET FOR MARCH 1-3
2023-24 BCL regular season champ and defending BCLT champ Mount St. Joseph lead the eight-team field at Goucher College

BALTIMORE – After an eventful 56-game regular season with tremendous individual and team performances that ended with Mount St Joseph capturing its record-tying 12th BCL regular-season title, the eight Baltimore Catholic League schools will gather to play the 53rd-annual Baltimore Catholic League Tournament, presented by Brooks Financial Group over three days, starting Friday, March 1 at the Decker Sports & Recreation Center Arena on the campus of Goucher College. At 53 consecutive years, the BCL Tournament is the current longest-running boys’ postseason tourney in the state.

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Four games make up the first round on March 1 at 3:00, 4:45, 6:30 and 8:15 pm. The semifinals are Saturday, March 2 with two games at 6:00 and 8:00 pm. Sunday, March 3, the junior varsity championship is set for 1:00 pm, and the BCL will crown the varsity tournament champion for the 12th time at Goucher with the title game at 3:00 pm.

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Advance tickets ($15 for adults and $10 for children ages 6-18/high school students) for each day of the tournament are available by clicking the link on the front page of the league’s website at BCLBasketball.com or by going directly to BCLBasketball.com/bclt-tickets. Beginning March 1, admission will be $20 per day for adults, and $15 for children ages 6-18/high school students. Children under six years old receive free admission. Tickets are being sold online ONLY (no cash tickets available at Decker SRC Arena).

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A tradition in Baltimore since the first tournament at the then-Essex Community College in 1972, the Baltimore Catholic League Tournament features the current eight-team lineup of Archbishop Spalding, Calvert Hall, John Carroll, Loyola, Mount Carmel, Mount St. Joseph, St. Frances and St. Maria Goretti.

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Calvert Hall, Loyola and Mount St. Joseph have participated in all 53 seasons and tournaments in the league’s history. St. Maria Goretti played in the 1983 and 1984 tournaments before joining the league as a full member in 1984-85. The 2024 BCL Tournament is the final one for Goretti, as the school announced its closure effective at the end of the current academic year. St. Frances became a BCL member school in 1988-89. Archbishop Spalding, a 1977 and 1978 invited participant when the school was known as Martin Spalding and also a 1997 invitee, became a league member in 1997-98. John Carroll, a 1974 invited participant, became a BCL member in 2010-11. Mount Carmel, a 2011 invited participant, brought the BCL membership back to the current eight teams when it was added for the 2011-12 season.

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The winner of the Baltimore Catholic League Tournament receives possession of the Brother D. John Smith, FSC Memorial Trophy, named for the second president of the BCL from 1973-76 who served as the athletic director at Calvert Hall. The BCL Tournament MVP receives the John M. Plevyak Most Valuable Player Award, named for the longtime Mount St. Joseph athletic director who was instrumental in the founding of the current league. The BCL honors the late longtime Archbishop Curley head coach and BCL Hall of Famer Dan Popera, who passed away in March 2023, with the re-named Dan Popera Sportsmanship Award.

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The 2024 tournament opens at 3 pm on March 1 when No. 7 seed John Carroll (4-10 BCL; 16-18 overall) takes on No. 2 seed St. Frances (9-5 BCL; 23-12 overall). John Carroll looks to win the program’s third tourney title and the first since 2021. John Carroll’s sixth-year head coach Seth Goldberg led the Patriots to a historic three-upset run over the No. 3, No. 2 and No. 1 seeds in the 2021 tournament. St. Frances 13th-year head coach Nicholas Myles looks to bring the Panthers back to a tourney title for a record 11th time and the first since 2020. This will be the eighth meeting between the schools in the BCLT, and John Carroll holds a 5-2 advantage over the Panthers in the tournament series. During the regular season, St. Frances swept both games over John Carroll with an 87-72 victory in Bel Air on December 6 and an 86-74 victory on Chase Street on January 24.

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The first game features John Carroll sophomore Aidan Able, a 2023-24 All-BCL second-team performer and junior Theartis Battle, an honorable mention All-BCL player for the Patriots. St. Frances sophomore Jasiah Cannady and senior Josiah Legree are both second-team All-BCL, and senior Donovan Flamer is part of the BCL honorable mention group.

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The 4:45 pm game has No. 6 seed Loyola (4-10 BCL; 20-14 overall) against No. 3 seed Mount Carmel (8-6 BCL; 24-11 overall). Loyola, under first-year head coach Josh Czerski, looks to win the BCLT for the sixth time, and the Dons’ first since 1978. Czerski is the seventh BCL coach to have played in the current league (Towson Catholic, 2007), and he came to Loyola after winning a Maryland 4A state title at Parkville. Mount Carmel, under first-year coach Tony Martin, is looking for the Cougars’ first BCLT title. Martin is no stranger to the BCL as he previously coached at Archbishop Spalding and John Carroll, winning three BCLT titles (one with Spalding and two with John Carroll), and he holds the current mark for the highest BCLT coaches winning percentage (minimum 20 games – 15-6; .714). This will be the second tourney meeting between the schools, as Mount Carmel beat the Dons 66-63 in the 2021 first round. The teams split the regular-season series as Loyola at Blakefield 62-58 on January 3, and Mount Carmel won in Essex 69-66 in overtime on January 29.

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The Loyola-Mount Carmel game features Loyola junior first team All-BCL player Mason Ellison and senior second-team choice J’Lin Brown. Mount Carmel counters with senior first-team selection Andrew Dixon and two honorable mention players – freshman Junior Mancho and sophomore Tristen Wilson.

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At 6:30 pm, nine-time overall and two-time defending BCL Tournament winner and 2023-24 regular-season champion Mount St. Joseph (13-1 BCL; 35-4 overall), led by the dean of BCL coaches, Pat Clatchey, who is in his 32nd season leading the Gaels and is in third place all-time among Maryland boys’ high school coaches in victories (827), plays No. 8 Calvert Hall (3-11 BCL; 16-19 overall), under third-year coach Gary Neal. The Cardinals have won seven BCLT championships, the last in 2015. This will be the 18th BCLT meeting between the schools and the second consecutive first-round matchup in the tourney, with the Cardinals holding a 9-8 edge. The Gaels won both meetings over the Cards this season with a 59-54 victory in Irvington on December 8 and a 59-40 victory in Towson on February 9.

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The Calvert Hall-Mount St. Joseph game features Cardinals senior Brendan Johnson, voted as the league’s 2023-24 Jerry Savage Player of the Year, and senior Tyrin Bizzelle, who was an honorable mention recipient. Mount St. Joseph is paced by a pair of first-team All-BCL players in seniors Jordan Brathwaite and Tyonne Farrell. The Gaels come into the BCL Tournament after winning the MIAA A Conference title over Archbishop Spalding on February 24 at UMBC.

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The final game of the first round at 8:15 pm has No. 5 seed St. Maria Goretti (7-7 BCL; 17-15 overall) under sixth-year coach and the repeat winner of the BCL’s O. Ray Mullis Coach of the Year award Sidney McCray against No. 4 seed Archbishop Spalding (8-6 BCL; 22-9 overall) under Cavaliers’ fifth-year head coach Josh Pratt, who looks to become the second coach in BCL history to win the tourney at two different schools (Towson Catholic, 2007). Goretti looks to win the title for the fifth time overall and the first time since 2001, while Spalding looks to take home the program’s first BCL tourney title since 2002 and the Cavaliers’ fourth overall. Archbishop Spalding was the MIAA A Conference runner-up this season. Spalding leads the all-time BCLT series over Goretti 4-1. The Cavaliers swept the season series with a 72-60 victory in Severn on January 11 and a 71-69 victory in Hagerstown on February 9.

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St. Maria Goretti has the repeat Mark Amatucci Defensive Player of the Year winner and first-team All-BCL senior Caleb Embeya as well as senior Jarvis Wright, the league’s Cokey Robertson Most Improved Player of the Year honoree and second-team All-BCL performer. Archbishop Spalding is led by junior first-team All-BCL player Malik Washington.

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The first-round winners meet in the semifinal round on Saturday, March 2. The winners of the 5/4 and 8/1 games play at 6:00 pm, and the winners of the 6/3 and 7/2 games meet at 8:00 pm. Championship Sunday, March 3 has two games. The junior varsity title game is at 1:00 pm, and the 53rd BCL varsity tournament championship between the semifinal winners is set for 3:00 pm.

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2024 BALTIMORE CATHOLIC LEAGUE TOURNAMENT,
PRESENTED BY BROOKS FINANCIAL GROUP
(Decker Sports & Recreation Center Arena; Goucher College)

Friday, March 1
First Round
7 John Carroll (16-18 overall; 4-10 BCL) vs. 2 St. Frances (23-12 overall; 9-5 BCL) – 3 pm
6 Loyola (20-14 overall; 4-10 BCL) vs. 3 Mount Carmel (24-11 overall; 8-6 BCL) – 4:45 pm
8 Calvert Hall (16-19 overall; 3-11 BCL) vs. 1 Mount St. Joseph (35-4 overall; 13-1 BCL) – 6:30 pm
5 St. Maria Goretti (17-15 overall; 7-7 BCL) vs. 4 Archbishop Spalding (22-9 overall; 8-6 BCL) – 8:15 pm

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Saturday, March 2
Semifinals
5/4 winner vs. 8/1 winner – 6:00 pm
6/3 winner vs. 7/2 winner – 8:00 pm

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Sunday, March 3
Championship
JV Championship – 1:00 pm
Varsity Championship – 3:00 pm

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February 19, 2024

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CALVERT HALL’S BRENDAN JOHNSON NAMED BALTIMORE CATHOLIC LEAGUE’S 2023-24 PLAYER OF THE YEAR

St. Maria Goretti’s Sidney McCray (Coach of the Year); Caleb Embeya (Defensive POY) and Jarvis Wright (Most Improved POY) honored;

All-BCL Teams selected

BALTIMORE – Calvert Hall senior Brendan Johnson, who is averaging 26.1 points, 7.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 2.0 steals per game while shooting 48 percent from the floor and 36 percent from 3-point range, is the Baltimore Catholic League’s Jerry Savage Player of the Year Award winner for the 2023-24 season.

 

St. Maria Goretti coach Sidney McCray, who led the Gaels to a fifth-place finish in the BCL with a 7-7 league record and a 15-15 overall record (through Feb. 16) in Goretti’s final season, repeated as the league’s O. Ray Mullis Coach of the Year recipient.

 

Goretti players also earned two other BCL Superlative Awards as senior Caleb Embeya repeated as the BCL’s Mark Amatucci Defensive Player of the Year Award winner, and senior Jarvis Wright was tabbed as the league’s Cokey Robertson Most Improved Player of the Year Award recipient.

 

Johnson, a second-team All-BCL choice last season, is the sixth Savage Player of the Year winner from Calvert Hall – the first for the Cardinals since Ricky Harris was Co-Player of the Year in 2004-05 and the first Calvert Hall solo Player of the Year since Reggie Bryant in 1998-99.

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McCray was named the Mullis Coach of the Year for the second time in his six seasons at St. Maria Goretti. McCray held a small roster of players together after the announcement that Goretti will close at the end of this academic year, and the Gaels responded with seven BCL victories – three in overtime – and Goretti beat both No. 2 seed St. Frances and No. 3 seed Mount Carmel this season. The Gaels are the No. 5 seed in the upcoming Baltimore Catholic League Tournament, presented by Brooks Financial Group.

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Embeya is averaging 18.0 points, 12.4 rebounds, 1.8 blocks and 1.2 steals per game while shooting 60 percent from the floor for St. Maria Goretti to repeat as the Amatucci Defensive Player of the Year winner.

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Wright is averaging 20.0 points, 7.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.6 steals per game while shooting 50 percent from the floor, 36 percent from 3-point range and 75 percent from the foul line for St. Maria Goretti. He is the third Gaels player to earn the Robertson Most Improved Player of the Year Award and the second in as many seasons, joining Tyrus Fleetwood (2012-13) and Najeh Allen (2022-23).

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The 2023-24 All-BCL first team includes Archbishop Spalding junior Malik Washington, Embeya, Mount St. Joseph senior Tyonne Farrell, Mount St. Joseph senior Jordan Brathwaite, Mount Carmel senior Andrew Dixon and Loyola junior Mason Ellison.

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The All-BCL second team consists of Wright, St. Frances sophomore Jasiah Cannady, St. Frances senior Josiah Legree, John Carroll sophomore Aidan Able and Loyola senior J’Lin Brown.

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Five other players received honorable mention recognition: Donovan Flamer (St. Frances), Junior Mancho (Mount Carmel), Tyrin Bizzelle (Calvert Hall), Tristen Wilson (Mount Carmel) and Theartis Battle (John Carroll).

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The BCL also announced the winners of the Dave Kropfelder Never, Never Quit Awards for each school, as selected by their coach. The honorees for 2023-24 are: Jaylin Sykes (Archbishop Spalding), Dean Mimaros (Calvert Hall), Justin Spencer (John Carroll), Deji Battle-Olley, (Loyola), Rodney Scott (Mount Carmel), AJ Norman (Mount St. Joseph), Gary Pittman (St. Frances) and Keyan Proctor (St. Maria Goretti).

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The 53rd Baltimore Catholic League Tournament, presented by Brooks Financial Group is set for March 1-3 at the Decker Sports and Recreation Center Arena on the campus of Goucher College. In the first round Friday, March 1, No. 7 seed John Carroll plays No. 2 seed St. Frances at 3 pm, No. 6 seed Loyola takes on No. 3 seed Mount Carmel at 4:45 pm, No. 8 seed Calvert Hall matches up against No. 1 seed and 2023-24 BCL regular season champion Mount St. Joseph at 6:30 pm and No. 5 seed St. Maria Goretti meets No. 4 seed Archbishop Spalding at 8:15 pm. The semifinal round is Saturday, March 2 with the 5/4 winner playing the 8/1 winner at 6 pm and the 6/3 winner taking on the 7/2 winner at 8 pm. Championship Sunday, March 3 has the junior varsity championship at 1 pm, and the 53rd varsity championship game at 3 pm. Tickets for each day of the 2024 BCL Tournament are on sale now at bclbasketball.com.

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2023-24 BALTIMORE CATHOLIC LEAGUE

ALL-LEAGUE TEAMS

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Jerry Savage Player of the Year Award
Brendan Johnson – Calvert Hall – Senior

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FIRST TEAM
Name, School (Class)
Malik Washington, Archbishop Spalding (Junior)
Caleb Embeya, St. Maria Goretti (Senior)
Tyonne Farrell, Mount St. Joseph (Senior)
Jordan Brathwaite, Mount St. Joseph (Senior)
Andrew Dixon, Mount Carmel (Senior)
Mason Ellison, Loyola (Junior)

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SECOND TEAM
Name, School (Class)
Jarvis Wright, St. Maria Goretti (Senior)
Jasiah Cannady, St. Frances (Sophomore)
Josiah Legree, St. Frances (Senior)
Aidan Able, John Carroll (Sophomore)
J’Lin Brown, Loyola (Senior)

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Honorable Mention: Donovan Flamer, St. Frances; Junior Mancho, Mount Carmel; Tyrin Bizzelle, Calvert Hall; Tristen Wilson, Mount Carmel; Theartis Battle, John Carroll

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Mark Amatucci Defensive Player of the Year Award
Caleb Embeya, St. Maria Goretti

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Cokey Robertson Most Improved Player of the Year Award
Jarvis Wright, St. Maria Goretti

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O. Ray Mulls Coach of the Year Award
Sidney McCray, St. Maria Goretti

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Dave Kropfelder Never, Never Quit Awards:
Jaylin Sykes, Archbishop Spalding 
Dean Mimaros, Calvert Hall 
Justin Spencer, John Carroll 
Deji Battle-Olley, Loyola 
Rodney Scott, Mount Carmel 
AJ Norman, Mount St. Joseph 
Gary Pittman, St. Frances 
Keyan Proctor, St. Maria Goretti

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February 15, 2024

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2024 BALTIMORE CATHOLIC LEAGUE TOURNAMENT, PRESENTED BY BROOKS FINANCIAL GROUP SET FOR MARCH 1-2-3 AT GOUCHER COLLEGE

Brooks Financial Group to serve as 2024 presenting sponsor

BALTIMORE – The Baltimore Catholic League will play its’ 53rd-annual BCL Tournament, presented by Brooks Financial Group at the Decker Sports & Recreation Center Arena on the campus of Goucher College on Friday, March 1, Saturday, March 2 and Sunday, March 3, 2024, BCL Commissioner Jack Degele announced today.

 

Brooks Financial Group, a longtime supporter of the Baltimore Catholic League, is the presenting sponsor of the 2024 tournament.

 

The venue is familiar to BCL fans, as Decker Arena played host last season, and the facility welcomes the tournament for the 12th time in BCLT history (1996-98, 2000-04, 2017-18 and 2023-24). A total of 68 BCLT games (third-most in BCL history) and 11 championship games (tied for second-most in league history) have been played in Decker Arena.

 

Game times for the first round on Friday, March 1 are 3:00 pm, 4:45 pm, 6:30 pm and 8:15 pm. The semifinals on Saturday, March 2 are set for 6:00 pm and 8:00 pm. Sunday, March 3, the BCL will hold the junior varsity championship game at 1:00 pm, and the 53rd BCL Tournament varsity championship game at 3:00 pm.

 

“The BCL Tournament is a great tradition in Baltimore prep basketball, and we are thrilled to return to Goucher College and Decker Arena for our event again this season,” said BCL Commissioner Jack Degele. “We strive for our student-athletes to play in the BCL Tournament on a college campus every season, and Decker Arena provides a great atmosphere during the entire weekend. We thank Brooks Financial Group for being the presenting sponsor of the 2024 BCL Tournament, and we appreciate their continued support of our league over the years. We also thank the athletic administration at Goucher College for their assistance in hosting our event again in 2024.”

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The Baltimore Catholic League Tournament is the current longest-running boys’ postseason tournament in the State of Maryland going into its 53rd edition in 2024.

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Tickets will go on sale Friday, Feb. 16 at 10 am. Advance tickets are on sale through February 29 for each day of the tournament. Advance prices are $15 for adults (18 and over) and $10 for children/HS students (ages 6-18). Full-price daily tickets ($20 for adults/$15 for children/HS students) will be on sale during the tournament days (March 1-3). This is a digital ticket event ONLY, and there will be NO cash sales at the door. The ticket sales link will be available Feb. 16 on the front of the league’s website, BCLBasketball.com.

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2024 BALTIMORE CATHOLIC LEAGUE TOURNAMENT,

PRESENTED BY BROOKS FINANCIAL GROUP

Decker Sports and Recreation Center Arena; Goucher College
Friday, March 1
First Round
3:00, 4:45, 6:30 and 8:15 pm

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Saturday, March 2
Semifinals
6:00 and 8:00 pm

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Sunday, March 3
Championship
JV Championship: 1:00 pm; Varsity Championship: 3:00 pm

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June 23, 2023

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FORMER BCL STAR CAM WHITMORE SELECTED NO. 20 BY HOUSTON IN 2023 NBA DRAFT

Whitmore is second Archbishop Spalding and 15th BCL player chosen all-time

BALTIMORE – Former Archbishop Spalding star Cam Whitmore, a two-time Baltimore Catholic League Jerry Savage Player of the Year in 2020-21 and 2021-22, was selected by the Houston Rockets at No. 20 overall in the first round of the 2023 NBA Draft, held in Brooklyn, N.Y.

 

Whitmore, who played one year collegiately at Villanova and was the 2022-23 BIG EAST Freshman of the Year, is the 15th BCL-affiliated player to be chosen in the NBA Draft since the league's founding for the 1971-72 season. He is also the BCL's eighth first-round pick all-time.

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Along with his BCL Player of the Year honors, Whitmore was a first-team All-BCL performer as a sophomore in 2019-20. After his senior season, he was named to the 2022 McDonald's All American team and was the 2022 Gatorade Maryland Boys' Basketball Player of the Year.

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Whitmore is the second NBA selection from Archbishop Spalding as Rudy Gay was selected by the Rockets at No. 8 in 2006. Gay, along with three other former BCL players - Damion Lee (Utah Jazz; Calvert Hall), Immanuel Quickley (New York Knicks; John Carroll) and Jalen Smith (Indiana Pacers; Mount St. Joseph) played in the NBA in 2022-23.

 

The BCL has had at least one player selected in each of the last five decades (1980s-2020s). Whitmore's selection gives the BCL three first-round selections in the last four NBA Drafts.

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The full BCL in the NBA history is available by clicking here.