Baltimore City Preview: Impact Transfers to Watch for 2019-20

<p>We are eight days away until public schools can officially begin practice for the 2019-20 season. There has been a ton of players movement in the Baltimore area since last season concluded, so it was only right to take a look at the players who will help change the landscape of the conferences in Baltimore City.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Zack Blackwell | 5'10 | Lake Clifton '20</strong></span></p> <p>Blackwell served as a lock down defender for Patterson last season as they claimed the Class 2A state championship. The 5-foot-10 guard is a relentless on-ball defender who makes life hard for whoever he matches up with on any given night. Offensively, he can get going from three off of catch-and-shoot scenarios while also being an effective finisher in transition. Blackwell fits the Lake Clifton blueprint perfectly in that he brings tremendous toughness to the defensive end of the floor. He and fellow guard <strong>Mike Gray</strong> (2020) will form one of the toughest back court defensive duos you can find.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Teon Rushing | 5'11 | Mervo '20</strong></span></p> <p>Rushing comes into Mervo during a year where the Mustangs desperately needed a player of his ilk. After sitting out last year with an injury, 2020 wing Will Thomas will take the floor for his senior season and not have to carry as much of the play making and ball handling responsibilities as he did two seasons ago. Rushing is an effective slasher and finisher around the rim. He can get into the paint, force defenses to collapse and make solid reads on whether to score himself or find an open teammate. Defensively, he competes and embraces guarding the ball. The addition of Rushing certainly added more steam to an already solid Mustangs squad for 2019-20.</p> <p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Kywon McCray | 6’4 | Lake Clifton</strong></span></p> <p>McCray is another transfer that will make Lake Clifton a formidable opponent in the city. At 6-foot-4, McCray offers brute size, athleticism and motor that will likely be featured on the wing for head coach Herman ‘Tree’ Harried. Their backcourt was solidified with Gray and Blackwell, but McCray ensures a quality contributor on the wing who can fill up the box score in a hurry, something every state title team needs. McCray has spent his high school career at Green Street Academy, but joins the Lakers and will be a key cog in making them a tough team to beat in the Baltimore area.</p> <p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Adam Walden | 6’9 | Poly ’22</strong></span></p> <p>Poly wasn’t hurting for size on their roster, but adding 6-foot-9 Walden bolsters their frontcourt and makes them better equipped to play the nationally ranked teams on their schedule. Walden supplies a true big man presence in the paint next to Marquette commit <strong>Justin Lewis</strong>, who will likely be featured more on the perimeter this year. The Engineers are loaded with quality depth at the guard and wing positions, but needed to fill a void at center after losing Amani Walker (Gannon University), who played a vital role next to Lewis during their state title run. All signs from this summer and fall have pointed towards Walden taking huge steps of improvement in both his body and his game. Since making it known that he would transfer from St. Frances, Walden has transformed his body by shedding weight and improving his motor and athleticism as a result. They would’ve been fine with Lewis alone, but adding Walden makes Lewis’ duties in the paint that much easier. He’ll be key by the time Poly gears up for the state tournament and goes for their fourth-straight Class 3A title.</p> <p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Jalen Morris | 6’1 | Lake Clifton ’20</strong></span></p> <p>As if Gray and Blackwell aren’t enough, Morris adds another quick, scoring guard to the fold. I assume that Coach Harried will start a smaller lineup with all three, but there’s still a lot of time to figure all of that out. Nonetheless, the 6-foot-1 transfer from Joppatowne operates well in isolation opportunities where he can beat his man off the dribble and either finish around the rim with soft touch or pull up in the mid-range. He has shown ability to make shots from the perimeter, but the majority of those makes off of catch-and-shoot scenarios. Morris possesses some nice athleticism as well, which will come in handy in the open floor and defensively. </p>