Montverde is loaded again. Front row: Brendan Boyle, Jalyn Patterson, Kevin Cham, Ahmaad Rorie. Back row: D'Angelo Russell, Makinde London, Chris Egi, Ben Simmons, head coach Kevin Boyle, Jordan Carolina, Justin Bibbs.
Photo by Andrew Bersham
Kevin Boyle
2012-13 record: 25-2, National High School Invitational champions, Academy Top 10 national champions
Players to watch: Justin Bibbs (6-4, Sr., G, Virginia Tech verbal commitment),
Brendan Boyle (6-1, Sr., G),
Jordan Caroline (6-6, G/F, Southern Illinois verbal commitment),
Chris Egi (6-8, Sr., F, Harvard verbal commitment),
Jean Marc Koumadje (7-4, Jr., C),
Makinde London (6-8, Sr., F, Xavier verbal commitment),
Jalyn Patterson (6-0, Sr., G, LSU verbal commitment),
Ahmaad Rorie (6-0, Sr., G, California verbal commitment),
D'Angelo Russell (6-4, Sr., G, Ohio State verbal commitment),
Ben Simmons (6-8, Jr., G/F, LSU, verbal commitment)
Breaking down the EaglesAfter winning a national title and saying goodbye to Kasey Hill (Florida), Dakari Johnson (Kentucky) and Devin Williams (West Virginia), it would be natural to assume Montverde Academy might take a slight step back in 2013-14.
Ohio State commitment D'Angelo Russell has won major titles at Montverde and on the club circuit over the past 10 months.
Photo by Andrew Bersham
Don't count on that happening this year – or any year as long as Boyle remains on the sideline at the Orlando-area school.
The Eagles have seven seniors already committed to Division I programs and Simmons – an Australian import firmly on the NBA radar – has already delivered a pledge to LSU.
"I feel that we can definitely be as good, but we will be different (than last year's team)," Boyle said. "We had a big, physical presence down low last year with Dakari Johnson and Devin Williams but this year's team will be quicker and more athletic."
The backcourt is stocked with experienced winners in Russell, Bibbs, Rorie, Patterson and coach's kid Brendan Boyle – who should become an eighth senior Division I signee at some point.
Caroline and Simmons add versatility as 3/4 combos while Canadian import Egi and London will man the post. Egi was being pursued by Duke before electing to pursue his education and hoops career at Harvard.
Two years after leaving St. Patrick in New Jersey for Montverde, Boyle sounds like a man just getting started at his new school.
"I have great affection and love for St. Pat's," Boyle said. "That being said, I'm in such a great situation here at a school with great academics and athletic facilities, the campus, the weather. I can't imagine a better high school job than this."
Stepping upFans got just a brief glimpse of Simmons last season. The 6-8 wing arrived after Christmas and didn't debut until Montverde made its run at the National High School Invitational.
247Sports has Simmons rated the No. 7 prospect in the 2015 class and Boyle described him as "Kyrie Irving-good" – referencing one of his former pupils at St. Patrick.
Key datesDec. 18-23 – City of Palms Classic
Dec. 27-30 – Wild Wings Café High School Hoops Classic
Jan. 11 – vs.
Huntington St. Joseph Prep (W.Va.)Jan. 16-18 – Bass Pro Tournament of Champions
Jan. 20 – vs.
Curie (Chicago) at Spalding Hoophall Classic
Continue reading to see 75 teams worth looking at for national rankings consideration
