IAC Conference Preview: 1-3

As we gear up for another season of HS basketball in the DMV, it's important to cover one of the best leagues in the country in the Interstate Athletic Conference to give our readers a preview for this upcoming season. Our scouts attended open gyms, spoke with area and national scouts, as well as local coaches to rank this nationally-respected league. These rankings are based off of last season's results, incumbent talent, incoming transfers, and where we think they will end the regular season. Today we'll break down our top 3 teams.     1. Bullis Bulldogs   Last season: 27-3, 8-0 IAC, IAC Champions   Key losses: Tyler Boston (graduation), Caden Diggs (graduation), Jewel Walker (graduation), [player_tooltip player_id='1494165' first='Jayson' last='Peterson'] (transfer)   Key additions: [player_tooltip player_id='1418518' first='Jeremiah' last='Johnson']- Transfer Senior, [player_tooltip player_id='2194788' first='Xavier' last='Skipworth']- Freshman, [player_tooltip player_id='2564073' first='Timmy' last='Zubatyuk']- Freshman, Orrin Ford III- Junior     Projected starting 5:   [player_tooltip player_id='1956025' first='Darren' last='Moore']- Senior (Stonehill commit)   [player_tooltip player_id='1782596' first='Angelo' last='Dickerson']- Junior   [player_tooltip player_id='1367431' first='Adrien' last='Stevens']- Senior (Marquette commit)   Chris Richards- Senior   [player_tooltip player_id='1955967' first='Eric' last='Reibe']- Senior (Connecticut commit)     Breakout Candidate: [player_tooltip player_id='1782596' first='Angelo' last='Dickerson'] III- Junior, Guard     Outlook:   -The defending champions are the favorite to repeat in the league despite graduating several key pieces. The senior duo of Uconn commit [player_tooltip player_id='1955967' first='Eric' last='Reibe'] and Marquette pledge [player_tooltip player_id='1367431' first='Adrien' last='Stevens'] should both vie for IAC POY as well as All-MET nominations. Reibe as a low post scoring option with a soft shooting touch that extends out to the 3 point line and Stevens as a dynamic lead guard that gets to the basket but can get downhill or hit perimeter shots. It will be PG by committee to replace a big piece in Tyler Boston, with Moore, Dickerson and Johnson stepping into bigger roles to initiate the offense and hit shots off the ball. Dickerson will likely have a breakout season as a scoring guard that can shoulder a bigger part of the offensive load when Reibe and/or Stevens are on the bench. Christopher Richards seems up to the task as he has earned a big role as a defender, rebounder, and versatile wing piece that is starting to hit perimeter shots at a more consistent rate. Our #2 freshman in the state [player_tooltip player_id='2194788' first='Xavier' last='Skipworth'] seamlessly will hit the ground running as a scoring guard that can also defend and play up a position or two when needed. Senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1768968' first='Michael' last='Hemann'] should provide valuable floor-spacing as a shooter with size that is pretty automatic stepping into open looks. Orrin Ford steps onto the hardwood after a successful football season to add in a physical rebounder, defender, and play-finisher off the bench into a rotation that needs that role filled in this season. Freshman [player_tooltip player_id='2564073' first='Timmy' last='Zubatyuk'] and senior Aki Pham should perform well in spot minutes this season.   Hit their ceiling if: their backcourt and wings chip in for rebounds at both ends     2. Georgetown Prep Hoyas   Last Season: 23-4, 6-2 IAC, IAC Runners Up   Key losses: RJ Stewart (graduation), Lee Bruner (graduation), Goap Kodi (graduation), Amadh Clark (football), [player_tooltip player_id='2347761' first='Wisdom' last='Mintz'] (transfer)   Key additions: [player_tooltip player_id='1891144' first='Sinan' last='Huan'] (transfer), Evan "Bruiser" Edwards (JV), [player_tooltip player_id='2454539' first='Jarrard' last='Desire'] (JV), [player_tooltip player_id='2862452' first='Macuei' last='Kodi'] (JV), [player_tooltip player_id='2524418' first='Jahlil' last='Waheed'] (freshman), [player_tooltip player_id='2194751' first='Charlie' last='Orcev'] (freshman), [player_tooltip player_id='2524416' first='Majok' last='Aguek'] (freshman)   Projected Starting 5:   Pat McDonough- Senior (Navy commit)   Carter Berg-Mclean- Senior (Loyola commit)   [player_tooltip player_id='1371865' first='Akbar' last='Waheed III']- Senior (Boston College commit)   [player_tooltip player_id='1768901' first='Tyler' last='Garrett']- Senior (Dartmouth commit)   [player_tooltip player_id='1891144' first='Sinan' last='Huan']- Junior     Breakout Candidate: [player_tooltip player_id='2454539' first='Jarrard' last='Desire']- Sophomore PG     Outlook:   -Prep enters the year led by an upperclassmen group that is hungry to walk out with an IAC title this spring. Berg-Mclean is the straw that stirs the drink as a dynamic play-maker off the bounce the also fills in as a rebounder, defender, and runs the fastbreak. Akbar Waheed enters the year determined to prove his worth as a versatile wing that can hit C+S looks, rebound, distribute, and come up big for the Hoyas in key moments. Garrett will bring his lunchpail every day as a rebounder and play-finisher in the paint that extends possessions for his team with his energy-- think people will be surprised with the added skill on the scoring touch in the paint and on C+S looks behind the 3 point line. McDonough brings dynamic shooting to the floor as a play-maker that can rattle off personal 10+ point runs off of FTs and perimeter shooting to break games open for his team. Huan brings in some much-needed interior defense, rebounding, and finishing ability as a standout athlete that still plays within himself to make the right plays that lead to winning. Senior Navy-commit [player_tooltip player_id='1494078' first='Dylan' last='Gassaway'] will bring a high-level defender and rebounder that could make spot starts depending on matchups, giving his team game-breaking energy off the bench. Desire and Edwards should make their presence known in the DMV as play-making dynamos that are constantly probing the defense to create a high-percentage look for their team while also serving as great POA defenders that fight around screens and generate turnovers. Kodi and Aguek should provide effective spot minutes as floor-spacing bigs with upside. Barring injuries opening up opportunities for early playing time, this should be a good developmental year for a pair of '28 prospects with big upside in [player_tooltip player_id='2194751' first='Charlie' last='Orcev'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2524418' first='Jahlil' last='Waheed'] to learn the ropes while developing their skillsets as versatile guards that can impact winning in several different categories.   Hit their ceiling if: their perimeter shooting is consistent enough to take advantage of their interior depth grinding out wins with easy paint looks     3. St. Stephen's & St. Agnes Saints   Last Season: 16-13, (6-4) IAC Semi's   Key losses: Kyan Bowman (graduation), Blake Neal (graduation), [player_tooltip player_id='2353625' first='Andrew' last='Ross'] (transfer)   Key additions: [player_tooltip player_id='1963530' first='Marcus' last='Hancock'] (transfer), [player_tooltip player_id='2884415' first='Devin' last='Ainsworth'] (freshman)     Projected Starting 5:   [player_tooltip player_id='2246278' first='Julian' last='Burgdolf']- Junior   [player_tooltip player_id='2884415' first='Devin' last='Ainsworth']- Freshman [player_tooltip player_id='1963530' first='Marcus' last='Hancock']- Junior   Collin Pollock Senior (Navy commit)   [player_tooltip player_id='1591318' first='Riley' last='Jacobs']- Senior (UMBC commit)   Breakout Candidate: [player_tooltip player_id='2246278' first='Julian' last='Burgdolf']- Junior PG   Outlook:   -Coach Andre Hunter enters his second season as the HC of a team that will be led by their upperclassmen after the graduation of several key pieces. The forward duo of Pollock and Jacobs enters the season as one of the better frontcourt tandems in the area. Jacobs will anchor the defense as a productive shot-blocker and rebounder that can score in a variety of ways 15' and in at the other end of the floor. Pollock will surprise some people with his blend of perimeter shooter, standstill play-making, and finishing ability around the basket. [player_tooltip player_id='2246278' first='Julian' last='Burgdolf'] steps into a much bigger play-making role as a leader and floor general that is starting to efficiently hit shots himself off the dribble. The freshman PG tandem of [player_tooltip player_id='2884415' first='Devin' last='Ainsworth'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2609427' first='Landon' last='Scott'] should keep the tempo alive off the bench, with senior Mark Stafford stretching the floor as a 3+D hustle player. [player_tooltip player_id='1963530' first='Marcus' last='Hancock'] should put himself on radars this season as a savvy floorspacer that moves exceptionally well off the ball, can hit shots from all 3 levels off the bounce, and is always on the ball/in gaps at the defensive end of the floor. '26 guards Gibson Sauri and Miles Spencer should add good minutes off the bench as ball-hawking guards that can space the floor and make the extra pass at the other end.   Hit their ceiling if:   their defensive pressure can force enough turnovers to get easy transition buckets

As we gear up for another season of HS basketball in the DMV, it's important to cover one of the best leagues in the country in the Interstate Athletic Conference to give our readers a preview for this upcoming season. Our scouts attended open gyms, spoke with area and national scouts, as well as local coaches to rank this nationally-respected league. These rankings are based off of last season's results, incumbent talent, incoming transfers, and where we think they will end the regular season. Today we'll break down our top 3 teams.