13. DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.)Head coach: Mike Jones
2010-11 record: 26-9, Alhambra Catholic Invitational champions
Players to watch: BeeJay Anya (6-8, 260, Jr., C),
Jerami Grant (6-7, 190, Sr., F, Syracuse verbal commitment),
Jairus Lyles (6-1, 170, Jr., G),
James Robinson (6-2, 200, Sr., G, Pittsburgh)
Stags scouting report: With two seniors bound for soon-to-be ACC schools, it's tough to envision the Stags approaching nine losses again. Then again, Jones isn't doing himself any favors in the scheduling department.
James Robinson has been the floor general for successful teams at DeMatha and the club circuit with Team Takeover.
Photo by Lonnie Webb
A rapidly reoccurring theme, DeMatha's gauntlet includes
DaJuan Coleman and
Jamesville-DeWitt (DeWitt, N.Y.),
Neumann & Goretti (Philadelphia),
Northwest Catholic (West Hartford, Conn.) and
Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) – plus a trip to the left coast for a tournament in California. Oh, and the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference is one of the toughest league-level affiliations in the country.
Perhaps it was savvy senior Robinson that gave Jones the confidence to challenge his team. The football-framed point guard is a coach's dream and led Team Takeover to a 17-0 regular-season record on Nike's EYBL circuit over the summer.
Grant, No. 48 in the MaxPreps Class of 2012 Top 100, defines wing-forward. He is the son of retired NBA vet Harvey Grant.
Anya is poised for a huge junior season after competing for a spot on USA Basketball's under-16 team and shedding around 30 pounds over the last year.
