St. Maria Goretti HS Team Overview & College Prospects
Head Coach Matt Miller:
Coach Miller will be entering his 4th season at Goretti leading the Gaels to 69 wins during his tenure. Goertti competes in the Baltimore Catholic League (BCL), which is Baltimore’s equivalent to Washington, DC’s WCAC. The BCL & the WCAC are 2 of the best conferences in the nation. Coach Miller played & graduated from WCAC power Gonzaga College HS who play in the WCAC. During his 3 years at Goretti Coach Miller has received numerous awards which include the prestigious 2017 BCL Coach of the Year. Prior to Goretti, Coach Miller was the top assistant coach at Shepherd University in 2013-14. He was responsible for practice teaching, game day coaching, scouting, and recruiting. From 2008 thru 2013 Coach Miller taught Physical Educating & Health at Winston Churchill HS in Potomac, MD in addition to serving as the Bulldogs Head Varsity basketball Coach. He was named Montgomery County Coach of the Year in 2011. Prior to Churchill Coach Miller was the Head coach at Wheaton High School in Wheaton, Maryland (2007-08). He was also an assistant coach at Marymount University (2006-07), at Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda, Maryland (2005-06) and St. Mary’s College of Maryland (2004-05). Coach Miller is a 2005 graduate of St. Mary’s College of Maryland where he majored in economics and he received a master’s degree in education from Marymount University in 2008. Additionally, Coach Miller is the Dean of Students at Goretti & he just earned his Certificate in Educational Leadership from Hood College
Assistant Coach : Sam Atupem
Coach Atupen is entering 4th season at St. Maria Goretti. He is a former Graduate Assistant Coach at Mount St. Mary’s University where played basketball & received his undergraduate degree.
Assistant Coach : Sidney McCray
This is Coach McCray’s 4th year as Assistant Varsity Coach Head JV Coach. He is the Director of Player Development.His responsibilities include scouting, recruiting, player development, and strength and conditioning. Coach Sid played at Shepherd University in Shepherd, WV where he graduated.
We had the privilege of scouting St. Maria Goretti’s excellent team 5 times last season. The Gaels finished 2016/17 with an outstanding 29-8 overall record. Goretti recorded a 11-3 BCL record, tying powerful Mt.St. Joseph in the regular season. In addition to their membership to the BCL, The Gaels play in Inter Parochial Athletic Conference (IPSL) & won the IPSL championship last season over Hagerstown rival St. James. This season Goretti must replace 6’3″ dynamic guard Elijah Clarance who is playing at Illinois State, 6’6″ Wing Jake Kuhn now at Cornell & 6’4′ CG Amir Harris via transfer. All 3 players were named to our all Maryland State Non DMV 1st team last season & Elijah Clarence was awarded Player of the Year. Despite losing 3 great players, Goretti will still be a threat in the BCL & field a very strong team consisting of the players named below. In addition to competing in the BCL & IPSl, the Gaels will host their own Thanksgiving Tournament, participate in the Gonzaga DC Classic, and in the Richmond, VA Benedictine Classic. We will be following St. Maria Goretti this season with live game reports & player articles.
https://prephoops.com/2017/05/maryland-team-western-md-eastern-western-shore/
2017-18 ST. MARIA GAELS GORETTI BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM
Josh Mack, 6’1″, CG, 2018.
We know Josh very well & & he is an outstanding player. Coach Miller says, “Josh has very high character, he is very consistent & continually improving. Josh is very versatile CG who can play on or off the ball. His handle has improved thru his hard work & dedication. Josh has played at very high level & is a very good defender.” Currently Josh has offers from D2 MEC Conference members Shepherd College & Wheeling Jesuit. He is one of the most complete players in MD & a fantastic team player.We will write an updated Recruiting Report for Josh in November. He played outstanding basketball at the Prep Hoops 250 Expo & the DMV Elite 80 this fall.
Rahsaan Edwards , 6’0″, CG/ PG, 2019.
“Last season Rahsaan was the 1st player off the bench. He can score & has a very good pull up game. Rahsann plays with a high motor & a high IQ. As his mid range grows he will be more productive.” Rahsaan will start in the Goretti back court & has improved his game thru his hard work & dedication. He makes his teammates better & will provide the Gales with an excellent all around player. He played for Team BBC this off-season on the Adidas Circuit. Rahsaan is a very good college prospect & will write his Recruiting Report in the near future.
RJ Blakeny, 6’5″ WG, 2019.
RJ is one of the most explosive player in MD/DC who has increased his shooting range. He plays with a high motor & is very dangerous in the open floor. RJ can score from all 3 levels & is an excellent defender. We believe he is a D1 high major recruit with great upside & will provide a Recruiting RJ in the near future.
Marial Mading, 6’9″ WG,
Marial has learned to play with more aggression as an inside outsideplayer & should flourish in his 2nd year at Goretti. He was just offered by D1 NJIT & Canisuis. We will provide a Recruiting Report for Marial this October.HE has huge upside & he keeps improving due to his work ethic.
Bryant Shives, 6’1″, CG, 2018.
Bryant is another shooter off the bench for the Gaels, & is committed to Mt. St. Marys for baseball.
Matt Rogers, 6’6″, F, 2020.
Matt is moving up from the 2016/17 Goretti JV. He played at the Prep Hoops 250 Expo in Owings Mills, this September 17 at the McDonogh School & Adam Ayalew wrote , “Matt Rogers impressed in a number of areas on Saturday, and has a bright future moving forward. The 6’6 sophomore demonstrated nice touch on his jumper, and worked hard on both ends of the floor. Rogers should continue to improve as he gets stronger and gains more high level experience.”
James Searcy, 6’3″ W, 2019
James moves up from the Goretti JV & he is an athletic wing who an shoot,in addition to being smart & athletic.
3 new players will join The St. Maria Goretti Gaels varsity basketball team this season who are currently enrolled & practicing with varsity:
Przemek Golek, 6’3: W, 2019.
Przemek is a strong & athletic wing from Poland with potential.
Briggs McClain, WG, 2020.
Briggs is crafty guard that can can shoot it very well who transferred to Goretti this off-season.
2016/17 BCL standings & records of its 8 teams.
- Mt. St. Joseph Gaels ( 11-3, 37-4) MIAA Black
- St. Maria Goretti HS (11-3, 28-9) BCL only
- Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Cougars (9-5, 29-11) MIAA Red
- John Carroll School Patriots ( 8-6, 21-13) MIAA Black
- St. Frances Academy Panthers (6-8, 16-18) MIAA Red
- Calvert Hall College HS Cardinals (5-9, 14-19) MIAA Red
- Archbishop Spalding Cavaliers (4-10, 11-19) MIAA Red
- Loyola Blakefield Dons (2-12, 8-20) MIAA Black
ISPL Conference
St. Maria Goretti Gaels HS, Hagerstown, MD.
Saint James School, Hagerstown, MD.
Mercersburg Academy Blue Storms HS, Merecersburg, PA,
St. Johns Catholic Prep Vikings HS, Buckeystown, MD
Good Luck to 2017 St. Maria graduates Elijah Clarance (Illinois State) & Jake Kuhn (Cornell) below: