BCL Player of the Year Candidates

With one game remaining in regular season play, awards for Player of the Year, Most Improved Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the year will be named in the near future. For this series, we’ll take a look at each award as the assumed candidates that have a chance of winning, starting with Player of the Year.

Cameron Whitmore Cameron Whitmore 6'7" | PF Archbishop Spalding | 2022 State #30 Nation MD | Archbishop Spalding ’22

Whitmore is one of the most electrifying player you’ll find nationwide in the high school ranks. His high-flying athleticism gives plenty of opportunity for content as videographers pack the baselines. It also instills some fear into the opposing team’s players and coaches. His versatility on both ends make him such a weapon and if there was any proof needed as to how valuable he is to Spalding, you can reference the last string of games where Whitmore sat out due to injury as the Cavaliers spiraled through a series of losses. Currently sitting 22-8 (7-5 BCL) and in fifth place, Whitmore and his squad will travel to Mount St. Joe for a huge BCL/MIAA bout. The future Villanova Wildcat has put up impressive numbers throughout his senior campaign and will look to lead his team to a conference title starting next week.

Bryce Lindsay Bryce Lindsay 6'2" | CG St. Frances | 2022 State MD | St. Frances ’22

Lindsay transferred to St. Frances back in the fall and immediately asserted himself with his elite range. As the season progressed, he became comfortable with his role in a rotation that features a plethora of talented guards. The South Carolina commit recorded multiple games of 30+ points and hit one of the biggest shots of his career against Spalding where he buried a 30-footer at the buzzer for the win. The Panther sit atop of the conference with an impressive 30-4 overall record and 11-1 in BCL play. 

Deon Perry Deon Perry 5'8" | PG Mt. Carmel | 2022 State MD | Mt. Carmel ’22

There may not be a more valuable player to his respective team than Deon Perry Deon Perry 5'8" | PG Mt. Carmel | 2022 State MD . The Loyola (MD) commit has willed his team in tough games throughout the season with his ability to control a game from the point guard position. Whether it was scoring the ball himself or being the playmaker for others, Perry is the straw that stirs the drink for the Cougars and recently helped them hand St. Frances their first league loss behind 28 points. Mt. Carmel is 22-6 overall and 9-5 in league play. With Perry’s explosive scoring prowess, they wouldn’t be a team that I would be anxious to matchup against come playoff time.

Amani Hansberry Amani Hansberry 6'7" | C Mount St. Joseph | 2023 State #52 Nation MD | Mt. St. Joseph ’23

Hansberry transferred this fall from St. John’s (DC) and as expected, wreaked havoc on the BCL with his size, skillset and versatility. His high motor is a contributing factor to recording routine double-doubles, while his willingness as a teammate sets the standard for everyone around him to pride themselves on thriving in their own role. His presence has helped the Gaels to a 24-5 overall record (9-4 BCL) as they host Spalding this Friday in their regular season finale. They’re in second place, but with a loss could move down in the standings.

Tyson Commander Tyson Commander 6'4" | SG The John Carroll School | 2022 State #203 Nation MD | John Carroll ’22

John Carroll took its share of punches this season as a team. A year after claiming the league title, the Patriots are 18-9 overall and 8-5 in BCL play, good enough for fourth place. Commander has been the consistent scoring presence throughout and with there being no access to stats, I’d assume he’s hovering around or a little over 20 points per game. The Patriots put together a cinderella run in last year’s playoffs and if they want to do it again, they’ll do so with much of the offensive scoring load resting on Commander’s shoulders.

Bryson Tucker Bryson Tucker 6'7" | CG IMG Academy | 2024 #15 Nation FL | Mt. St. Joseph ’24

The chances of a sophomore winning this award are extremely slim, but when you consider what Tucker does for his team on a nightly basis, there’s no way this list is formed without his name. He is the epitome of what the game cherishes today considering his size at 6-foot-6 and ability to control the game as a point guard. He gets to his spots almost at will and thrives in the mid-range as a pull-up shooter. He can operate off ball screens and make high-level reads to both the roller or rotating shooters on the weakside. Most importantly, he’s a vocal leader at the young age of 15 and helps his teammates around him become better players thanks to his elite basketball IQ.