The IH Maryland/D.C. Top Ten
Team rankings where the specialty of the late James Nichols (the I.H.). In his spirit we present the Preseason Top 10 teams in Maryland and D.C.
1.NEW HOPE ACADEMY - LANDOVER, MD
New Hope has several top ranked players and a couple in the top ten with Jayln Brown and Kennedy FauntleroyKennedyFauntleroy
5'8" | CG New Hope Academy | 2022StateMD. They can put a six foot plus lineup on the floor and be defensively smothering to anyone. Coach Caldwell runs his teams like a college program and hits a national schedule early. With so much local talent and teams in the area the question is will the Tigers engage the top locals or stay on the road.
2. MCDONOGH - OWINGS MILLS, MD
The Eagles may run the table in Baltimore and have the length and talent up and down the roster to compete with anyone in the country. Tatum GreeneTatumGreene
6'2" | SF St. John's College | 2024StateMD is as athletic as they come and Delaney YarboroughDelaneyYarborough
6'3" | PF McDonogh | 2022StateMD has the size to hold down the paint against anyone. One question is who will Coach Rees have run the point? Most of the team are underclassmen so they should be solid for a while. Can their strength of schedule keep them in the top five for an entire season?
3. SIDWELL FRIENDS - WASHINGTON, DC
Tamika Dudley is collecting championships andKiki RiceKikiRice
5'11" | PG Sidwell Friends School | 2022State#4NationMD is the region’s top player. The Quakers have Jadyn DonovanJadynDonovan
6'1" | SF Sidwell Friends School | 2023State#21NationMD and Leah HarmonLeahHarmon
5'7" | PG IMG Academy | 2024StateFL both playing at a high level. They should face little resistance in the ISL Conference and we will see how much they are willing to stretch outside their comfort zone for some bump.
4. BISHOP MCNAMARA - FORESTVILLE, MD
The Mustangs have the most talented roster in the DMV with every player a division one prospect. They have scorers and the best guard lineup that I have seen in years. With no true center on the roster the question will be how Frank Oliver will matchup against post heavy teams that look to slow the pace? Yonta VaughnYontaVaughn
5'7" | PG Bishop McNamara | 2022State#68NationMD and Princess MoodyPrincessMoody
5'8" | CG Bishop McNamara | 2025StateMD makes for a tough back court and Sahnya JahSahnyaJah
6'1" | SF Bishop McNamara | 2023#50NationFL has established herself as a premier wing. Gia CookeGiaCooke
5'9" | PG Bishop McNamara | 2022State#50NationMD potentially will be the leading scorer for BMac.
5. ST. JOHN’S COLLEGE - WASHINGTON, DC
The Cadets have Delaney ThomasDelaneyThomas
6'2" | C St. John's College | 2023StateMD and no one else does. Sophomore Kyndal WalkerKyndalWalker
5'9" | PG St. John's College | 2024StateMD is emerging as a prime-time player in the WCAC and Coach Scribner is a master at "coaching up" players to play at their best. They will have to face the two teams ranked above them and both have proved to be formidable foes.
6. ELIZABETH SETON - BLADENSBURG, MDRegina WaltonReginaWalton
5'2" | PG Elizabeth Seton | 2022StateMD will try and work her magic one more year leading the Roadrunners on a WCAC run. Coach Bell has done a good job getting Seton back to a respectable level, a healthy Hannah DerejeHannahDereje
6'3" | PF Elizabeth Seton | 2022StateMD in the middle will give then balance. How long will it take the addition of freshman Emma NuQuayEmmaNuQuay
5'9" | PG Elizabeth Seton | 2025StateMD to pay dividends that translate into wins?
7. RIVERDALE BAPTIST SCHOOL - UPPER MARLBORO, MD
RBS has been a mainstay as one of the regions top teams year in and year out. After the team took a new approach to sports post covid, their is now a push to revamp the program and Coach Shawn Wright a veteran in the area takes charge of the storied program. Caia LovingCaiaLoving
6'3" | PF Riverdale Baptist School | 2022StateMD will anchor the middle and Drew Jordan will provide firepower from the wing. The Crusaders play a challenging schedule and we will find out early where they stand.
8. GOOD COUNSEL - OLNEY, MD
Coach Milt Kimbrough has so much to smile about this year as the Falcon’s should finally make the turn back to it’s glory years. Transfer Jade TillmanJadeTillman
6'2" | PF Good Counsel | 2023StateMD will add a huge boost and they return two division one signee’s in Kadidia ToureKadidiaToure
6'2" | PF Good Counsel | 2022StateMD and Jaylyn McNeill. They may possibly be the surprise team of the WCAC.
9. HOWARD, ELLICOTT CITY, MD
Howard should make space in their trophy case for that state championship trophy. After the cancellation of the states the last couple of seasons because of the pandemic this year’s championship will be special. It’s not a given as their is some more talented teams in the public school ranks. Not many public schools can put talent like Gabby ScottGabbyScott
6'0" | SF Howard | 2022StateMD, Gabrielle KennerlyGabrielleKennerly
5'10" | SF Howard | 2023StateMD and Meghan YarnevichMeghanYarnevich
6'2" | C Bullis | 2025StateMD on the floor at the same time.
10. ST FRANCES ACADEMY - BALTIMORE, MD
SFA will have to compete every night as the IMAA is making a comeback to prominence. The sisters Daimoni and Kameryn DorseyKamerynDorsey
5'7" | PG St. Frances Academy | 2023StateMD will have to carry a huge load if they want to continue to be amongst Baltimore’s finest.