The DMV area is well-known for its basketball prowess and programs likes DeMatha and Montrose Christian have exemplified why, featuring nine of the top 10 teams in the state of Maryland since 2000.
The Old Line State produced the National High School Invitational champion in 2010-11 as Montrose Christian went 25-1 en route to a top five national finish.
That led us to question where Montrose Christian stacks up against the top teams in the state since the turn of the century. Evaluating resumes, national rankings and talent on the rosters, we put together a list of the top teams in Indiana since 2000. See the complete breakdown below.
Hunter Dickinson makes a move in the post during his junior season with DeMatha.
File photo by Mike Braca
Top 10 teams in Maryland since 2000
Record: 25-1
National Ranking: No. 4
Notable Players: Carmelo Betancourt, Justin Anderson, Michael Carrera, Kevin Larsen, Tyrone Johnson
Rundown: Captured the 2011 National High School Invitational after outlasting Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) 71-64 in a double-overtime championship-game thriller. Johnson scored a team-high 21 points and Carrera recorded 20 points and 11 rebounds while Anderson knocked down a 3-pointer with 2.5 seconds remaining in overtime to force the second extra session. Montrose Christian closed its doors two seasons later in 2013.
Record: No. 4
National Ranking: 34-1
Notable Players: Chris Braswell, Mike Foster, Jerai Grant, Adrian Miles, Nigel Munson
Rundown: Knocked off previously unbeaten Mount St. Joseph 70-55 in the Alhambra Catholic Invitational title game paced by a game-high 18 points from tournament MVP Munson. Sophomore Braswell contributed 12 points and eight rebounds off the bench. After trailing 46-45 heading into the fourth quarter, the Stags opened the final period on a 9-2 run before cruising to the signature win.
3. Montrose Christian 2005-06
Record: 20-2
National Ranking: No. 9
Notable Players: Adrian Bowie, Troy Brewer, Kevin Durant, Taishi Ito, Greivis Vasquez
Rundown:
This squad may be the most talented team of the 2000s, featuring a
stacked lineup headlined by Durant and Vasquez. After starting the
season at No. 1 in the preseason poll, they suffered two losses prior to
a meeting with top-ranked Oak Hill Academy, which was riding a 56-game win
streak. Montrose knocked off Oak Hill 74-72 in a game renowned as one
of the greatest in DMV history.
4. DeMatha 2019-20
Record: 30-3
National Ranking: No. 5
Notable Players: Hunter Dickinson, Elijah Hawkins, Jordan Hawkins, Earl Timberlake Jr., Tyrell Ward
Rundown: Seniors Dickinson and Timberlake led the Stags to elite success during their final three years with the program, leading the program to a 95-13 record against tough national competition with three consecutive top 10 finishes nationally. After starting the year 4-2 following a pair of defeats to top five opponents, the Stags won 26 of their last 27 games to finish the season with the WCAC crown.
5. DeMatha 2004-05
Record: 29-2
National Ranking: No. 9
Notable Players: Jeff Allen, Mamadi Diane, Austin Freeman, Jason Green, Nigel Munson
Rundown: Under third-year head coach Mike Jones, the Stags won their first league title since the retirement of legendary head coach Morgan Wootten in 2002. DeMatha finished the regular season 13-0 in WCAC play before winning the WCAC tournament and City Title championship. This group was led by first team All-Met Diane, second team All-Met Munson and third team All-Met Freeman.
6. Montrose Christian 2002-03
Record: 20-1
National Ranking: No. 9
Notable Players: Troy Hailey, Linas Kleiza, Arvydas Lidzius, Fred Robinson, Joe Young
Rundown:
All-Met Player of the Year Kleiza had a dominant senior campaign,
averaging 20.5 points and 12.2 rebounds to lead a senior-laden group to a
top 10 finish nationally. Kleiza exploded for 28 points and 17 rebounds
in a signature 73-65 victory over Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson,
Va.). Hailey, Lidzius, Robinson and Young were all seniors who went on
to play at Division I colleges.
7. DeMatha 2008-09
Record: 31-4
National Ranking: No. 10
Notable Players: Quinn Cook, Naji Hibbert, Victor Oladipo, Marcus Rouse, Josh Selby
Rundown: An ultra-talented roster featured an embarrassment of riches as a loaded backcourt was headlined by third-team All-Met selections Hibbert and Cook. Along with Cook, future NBA talents on the roster included juniors Jerian Grant, Oladipo and Selby along with then-freshman Jerami Grant. DeMatha went on to win the WCAC regular season and tournament championships.
Record: 38-1
National Ranking: No. 8
Notable Players: Chase Adams, Louis Birdsong, Dejuan Goodwin, Dino Gregory, Kevin Swecker
Rundown:
Entered the Alhambra Invitational Catholic Tournament title game
undefeated before falling to DeMatha 70-55. All-Metro Player of the Year
Birdsong averaged 12.2 points, 8.5 rebounds and two blocks while first
team All-Metro selection Goodwin averaged 12.2 points, 4.1 rebounds and
3.4 assists to form a strong one-two punch. The Gaels set state records
for single-season wins and most consecutive wins in a season.
9. DeMatha 2018-19
Record: 33-5
National Ranking: No. 10
Notable Players: Hunter Dickinson, Carsten Kogelnik, Justin Moore, Paul Smith, Earl Timberlake Jr.
Rundown: Returned its entire starting from a team that finished No. 6 in the national rankings. Although the Stags were upset in the WCAC Tournament semifinals, they finished tied atop the WCAC regular season standings. DeMatha swept its season series with WCAC co-champion St. Paul VI (Chantilly, Va.) 3-0 after defeating the Panthers in the Alhambra Catholic Invitational Tournament title game.
10. DeMatha 2017-18
Record: 32-5
National Ranking: No. 6
Notable Players: Hunter Dickinson, Carsten Kogelnik, Justin Moore, Paul Smith, Earl Timberlake Jr.
Rundown: A youthful core didn't feature a senior in the starting lineup, but scrapped their way to a second place finish in WCAC regular season play before capturing the WCAC tournament championship and Alhambra Catholic Invitational Title. Despite playing a loaded out-of-conference schedule, the Stags lone non-conference loss came to eventual national champions Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.).
