2024-25 State of the WCAC Address

New season, new hopes new expectations in what is considered to be the best high school conference in the country. With the rule change about five years ago allowing fee interconference transfers without penalty, what the commissioners feared the most may have happened, the creation of a super team. Fortunately, their is a huge talent pool in the DMV and enough talent to spread the wealth if you can convince the right players to join your program. After visiting several campuses this preseason and talking to some coaches, here are my predictions for the season.   1. Bishop McNamara   The Mustangs are deep, super deep. They had the best returning roster in the WCAC then Ron goes out and adds three of the top players in the DMV on top of that. The end result is 11 players that can start for most any team in the country. Can they all get time this season? Of course as I suspect there will be quite a few blow out victories and minutes will be available to all in most games. Yes they lost an all-American from last years roster but the gains actually make the a better team. Can anyone stop Bishop McNamara from hoisting the trophy at the end of the season? It's doubtful.   Key Returning Players   [player_tooltip player_id='239453' first='Zhen' last='Craft'] [player_tooltip player_id='336823' first='Mary' last='Amoateng'] [player_tooltip player_id='239435' first='Vanessa' last='Harris'] New Additions   NyAir McCoy [player_tooltip player_id='433801' first='Cai' last='Roberson'] [player_tooltip player_id='787974' first='Nevaeh' last='Roberson']   2. Elizabeth Seton   I would call it a disappointing year for Elizabeth Seton last year as they brought in what I felt was the most complete roster in the league. This season most of them return and if they do what they are supposed to do and all come together as a team this could be their year. That is a big if, as last season the team of talented individuals didn't seem to gel together right. [player_tooltip player_id='239466' first='Makayla' last='Johnson'] is a Player of the Year can do everything on the court and [player_tooltip player_id='396234' first='Nadeya' last='Regala'] is so accurate from beyond the arc that she probably should be shooting the ball whenever she is open. [player_tooltip player_id='535821' first='Layla' last='Burton'] is super fast and can push the pace of the game as she pressures the ball on defense. They need to figure out their identity and pace that they want to play and get everyone on board. Picking up the defensive intensity will cover most flaws during the game. They can either be in the championship game or out of the quarter finals, potential versus execution.   Key Returning Players   [player_tooltip player_id='239466' first='Makayla' last='Johnson'] [player_tooltip player_id='396234' first='Nadeya' last='Regala'] [player_tooltip player_id='239389' first='Emma' last='NuQuay'] [player_tooltip player_id='535821' first='Layla' last='Burton']   3. Our Lady of Good Counsel   Giving some respect to the Falcons for having the top player in the DMV on their roster in Caliyah Devillasee. They lose a key piece to their roster with the graduation of Talayah Walker, which means [player_tooltip player_id='239433' first='Madison' last='Hall'] will be looked upon to provide a lot more this season. They have a veteran coach that is good at getting the most out of his players and Delillasee makes everyone around her better. Can they get to the championship game? It's a toss up but they have just as good of a chance as anyone. The lack of depth will be the biggest issue for them.   Key Returning Players   Caliyah Devillasee [player_tooltip player_id='239433' first='Madison' last='Hall']   4. St. John's College High School   St. John's enter the season as the defending champions after raising the trophy for the 8th time last season. Losing superstar Kendal Walker is a huge loss but, Coach Scribner has a track record of having top players graduate and elevating the next player up. He has a deep roster with a few six footers to include 6'3" [player_tooltip player_id='569070' first='Lyla' last='Coogan'] and 6'4" [player_tooltip player_id='569089' first='Camille' last='Nesmith'], both of whom can stretch the floor with the three. [player_tooltip player_id='569064' first='Samantha' last='Eller'] returns healthy and should be a spark on both ends as she can cover multiple positions. Having them number three can be considered blasphemy but the literally lost their entire starting five from last season.   Key Returning Players   [player_tooltip player_id='569064' first='Samantha' last='Eller'] [player_tooltip player_id='376355' first='Lyla' last='Coogen']   New Additions   [player_tooltip player_id='1057656' first='Dallas' last='Cooke'] [player_tooltip player_id='1057658' first='Zoe' last='Conner']   5. Bishop Ireton   [player_tooltip player_id='302530' first='Nyla' last='Brooks'] can single handedly change the outcome of a game and Theresa Hagins is an emerging star. The Cardinal can compete with any team in the league and Nyla has off the charts athleticism and midrange accuracy. They have a solid team but, may be a little light at the center position. The Boston College commit [player_tooltip player_id='239417' first='Amirah' last='Anderson'] is one of the top rebounding guards in the league and she is versatile on the offensive end with the size to play inside and out. They should be in every game against the top half of the league and is they get hot during the playoffs, they can make a run to the championship. Expect Nyla to see a lot of double teams opening the floor for others to shine.   Key Returning Players   [player_tooltip player_id='302530' first='Nyla' last='Brooks'] [player_tooltip player_id='239417' first='Amirah' last='Anderson'] Theresa Hagins   6. Paul VI   Paul VI went through a down year last season, however, a down season got them to the WCAC quarter finals which is a success for most other programs. Adding one of the nations top freshman point guards in [player_tooltip player_id='691150' first='Taylor' last='Williams'] is a move that will guarantee future success and can help ease the load of losing Player of Year Laura Williams. They do have another Williams (Lee) on the roster along with sharpshooter Lala Rachmat-Jones. The key player is [player_tooltip player_id='312081' first='Riley' last='Hamburger'] who will be the focus of the defense.   Key Returning Players   [player_tooltip player_id='312081' first='Riley' last='Hamburger'] [player_tooltip player_id='579891' first='Demi' last='Gilliam'] Lala Rachmat-Jones   New Additions   [player_tooltip player_id='691150' first='Taylor' last='Williams']   7. St. Mary's Ryken   Ryken will lean on [player_tooltip player_id='839264' first='Jaela' last='Fair'] and [player_tooltip player_id='854457' first='Sydney' last='Thompson'] for most of their team's offense. Inside they will have 6'4" Olu Enajekpo to clog up the middle defensively. I don't see enough firepower here to get them out of the bottom half but, they have enough out of conference games to get them a respectable record.   Key Returning Players   [player_tooltip player_id='839264' first='Jaela' last='Fair'] [player_tooltip player_id='854457' first='Sydney' last='Thompson']   8. Academy of the Holy Cross   Holy Cross as a full line up of seniors that have been in the program their entire time. Zoey Seymore and [player_tooltip player_id='931053' first='Molly' last='McNamara'] are the two main ingredients that will drive the Tartan. Word is that [player_tooltip player_id='363313' first='Marshea' last='Fisher'] may be back in the bulding after a brief stint at Shabach Christian Academy. If this is true I can see them taking over a spot a little higher than 8th.   Key Returning Players   Zoey Seymore [player_tooltip player_id='931053' first='Molly' last='McNamara']   New Additions   [player_tooltip player_id='363313' first='Marshea' last='Fisher'] *   9. Archbishop Carroll   Carroll lost a most of there players to graduation and transfer, now they are on the rebuild. The staff most likely will be spending a lot of time on skill development to get everyone better as players will move up from jv to fill the roster. They will probably struggle but, they will play hard because Coach White won't let her players quit and won't quit on her players.

New season, new hopes new expectations in what is considered to be the best high school conference in the country. With the rule change about five years ago allowing fee interconference transfers without penalty, what the commissioners feared the most may have happened, the creation of a super team. Fortunately, their is a huge talent pool in the DMV and enough talent to spread the wealth if you can convince the right players to join your program. After visiting several campuses this preseason and talking to some coaches, here are my predictions for the season.