Stags return key weapons from 33-4 campaign in 2014-15.
Video: Early Contenders - DeMatha
MaxPreps 2015-16 High School Basketball Early Contenders, Presented by Dick's Sporting Goods and Under Armour
Head coach: Mike Jones (14th year)
2014-15 record: 33-4, No. 19 final national ranking
State association: Washington Catholic Athletic Conference
Enrollment: 800
Head coach Mike Jones and his 2015-16 DeMatha basketball players
Photo by Patrick Kane
Players to Watch
Joshua Carlton (6-9, Jr., F) … Transfer from North Carolina
Nate Darling (6-3, Sr., G) … Committed to UAB
Christian Dyches (6-7, Sr., F) … Key returning contributor
Markelle Fultz (6-5, Sr., G) … Committed to Washington
Reggie Gardner (6-2, Sr., G) … Fairfield, Siena and Towson have offered
D.J. Harvey (6-6, Jr., G/F) … Arizona and Duke among suitors
Guard D.J. Harvey
Photo by Patrick Kane
Key Dates
Dec. 27-30 – Les Schwab Invitational
Jan. 2 – vs.
Montverde Academy (Fla.) at Cancer Research Classic
Jan. 18 – vs.
Chaminade (St. Louis) at Spalding Hoophall Classic
Guard Markelle Fultz
Photo by Patrick Kane
Stag Storylines
* Basketball has taken Jones places. In recent years, he has helped coach USA Basketball to gold medals in competitions staged in Argentina and Lithuania. As a professional in the late 1990s, Jones played in the Dominican Republic, Finland, Hong Kong and Portugal.
* Fultz was one of the best stories in high school basketball during the 2014-15 season. The Washington commitment spent his sophomore season on the DeMatha junior varsity. As a junior he broke out to become the MVP of the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference.
* Darling is a dangerous threat from beyond the arc. The Canada native knocked down 75 3-pointers as a junior and has committed to play for former California and Kansas sharpshooter Jerod Haase at UAB.
View gallery of preseason Early Contenders photo shoot with DeMatha
