The IH Maryland/D.C. Top Ten

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 Fauntleroy Kennedy Fauntleroy 5'8" | CG New Hope Academy | 2022 State MD .  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 Greene Tatum Greene 6'2" | SF St. John's College | 2024 State MD is as athletic as they come and Delaney Yarborough Delaney Yarborough 6'3" | PF McDonogh | 2022 State MD 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 and  Kiki Rice Kiki Rice 5'11" | PG Sidwell Friends School | 2022 State #4 Nation MD is the region’s top player.  The Quakers have Jadyn Donovan Jadyn Donovan 6'1" | SF Sidwell Friends School | 2023 State #21 Nation MD and Leah Harmon Leah Harmon 5'7" | PG IMG Academy | 2024 State FL 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 Vaughn Yonta Vaughn 5'7" | PG Bishop McNamara | 2022 State #68 Nation MD and Princess Moody Princess Moody 5'8" | CG Bishop McNamara | 2025 State MD makes for a tough back court and Sahnya Jah Sahnya Jah 6'1" | SF Bishop McNamara | 2023 #50 Nation FL has established herself as a premier wing.  Gia Cooke Gia Cooke 5'9" | PG Bishop McNamara | 2022 State #50 Nation MD potentially will be the leading scorer for BMac. 5. ST. JOHN’S COLLEGE - WASHINGTON, DC The Cadets have Delaney Thomas Delaney Thomas 6'2" | C St. John's College | 2023 State MD and no one else does.  Sophomore Kyndal Walker Kyndal Walker 5'9" | PG St. John's College | 2024 State MD 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, MD Regina Walton Regina Walton 5'2" | PG Elizabeth Seton | 2022 State MD 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 Dereje Hannah Dereje 6'3" | PF Elizabeth Seton | 2022 State MD in the middle will give then balance.  How long will it take the addition of freshman Emma NuQuay Emma NuQuay 5'9" | PG Elizabeth Seton | 2025 State MD 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 Loving Caia Loving 6'3" | PF Riverdale Baptist | 2022 State MD 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 Tillman Jade Tillman 6'2" | PF Good Counsel | 2023 State MD will add a huge boost and they return two division one signee’s in Kadidia Toure Kadidia Toure 6'2" | PF Good Counsel | 2022 State MD 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 Scott Gabby Scott 6'0" | SF Howard | 2022 State MD , Gabrielle Kennerly Gabrielle Kennerly 5'10" | SF Howard | 2023 State MD and Meghan Yarnevich Meghan Yarnevich 6'2" | C Bullis | 2025 State MD 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 Dorsey Kameryn Dorsey 5'7" | PG St. Frances Academy | 2023 State MD will have to carry a huge load if they want to continue to be amongst Baltimore’s finest.