The Challenge: Unsigned 2026 Maryland Stock Risers (Pt. 1)

The Challenge took place over the weekend in York, Pa as over 120 high schools programs (boys' varsity, junior varsity and girls' varsity) made their way to the Expo Center to compete as they prepare for their upcoming season. An endless list of prospects made their case as stock risers with their production, so there's a chance this article can be broken down into multiple parts. For now, we'll look at the 2026 prospects in Maryland/D.C. who too advantage of the stage.    Bol Thet was the talk of the event as the dynamic forward helped lead Springdale to a perfect 4-0 showing. His blend of size, fluidity, and motor equate to one of the best two-way bigs available in the DMV. On several occasions, Thet swatted shots away at the rim, put his head down to sprint the floor, and finished in rim-rocking fashion to further assert his dominance in the paint. Look for not only his stock among college programs sky-rocket, but also his ranking as we're set to update the 2026 rankings later this week. Thet is primed for a massive season as Springdale enters the year with one of the more intriguing rosters in the area.     There's no doubt in my mind that Byrd is one of the best DIII prospects you'll find in Maryland. Not only do I think he can come in and make an impact from day one, but he's equipped with valuable leadership intangibles that you see in all-conference type of upperclassmen playing at that level. Byrd averaged 19 points per game as B-CC went 1-1 on Saturday, but his willingness to guard any position on the floor, communicate in effective fashion defensively, and make others around him better on the other end while remaining efficient in his own scoring attack are all reasons why he'll see his stock improve after this weekend.     Konkler put together a nice showing on Saturday for a Blake team that was without the services of Baba Oladotun. Both Konkler and [player_tooltip player_id='2148722' first='Tahj' last='Martin'] had strong performances. While Martin handled much of the on-ball duties, Konkler played off the ball and not only impacted with his efficient scoring (over 14PPG), but also made some key plays on the defensive side in crunch time of games that helped gain momentum for the Bengals. Konkler is a threat from deep off the catch, understands timing on cuts as actions unfold in the halfcourt, and can be a dual-threat in the open floor to create advantages.     Peterson is packed with athletic pop and untapped potential that makes him one of the more intriguing names that remain available in the DMV. When he's on the floor with a focused mindset, it results in emphatic lobs or plays around the rim that demand your attention. When he's approaching the glass with pride, he can do what he did on Sunday and average a near double-double of 17 points and nine boards while altering several attempts around the bucket. As long as the frontline of both he and Steven Huan can remain healthy, they'll be quite the duo for head coach Kevin Jones this season.     Every time I see Morton play with this CMIT North group I walk away pleased with his play and production. That was the case once again this weekend as the 6-foot-2 combo guard helped lead his team to two wins on Sunday behind just under 15PPG. Morton provides balance as both a scorer and playmaker. He can settle things down as the opposition attempts to trap or speed things up with pressure. Morton made his presence known defensively as well in the passing lanes using his instinctual timing and anticipation to intercept deliveries and spark transition points for his team. Morton's name is still flying under the radar, but should be a name that college coaches do due diligence on.     Harvey had a strong outing to begin the event against John Carroll as Severn came out of the gates scoring in bunches. John Carroll would ultimately adjust and win the game, but Harvey's ability to maneuver his way to the rim and use his athleticism to make it difficult on opposing defenders to contest helped him remain consistent. Harvey led the Admirals with 15 points and 19 points in their two games on Saturday. He brings positional size at the guard spot, good wiggle with burst playing off the bounce, and a confident shooting stroke off the catch that he uses to quickly fill it up when his confidence is flowing.     A tough-nosed downhill Baltimore scoring guard, Al-Mateen will be the engine once again for this SEED team as they come off their state championship appearance in 2024-25. He can use his blend of quickness and strength thanks to his bruising frame to bully his way to his spots off the dribble. He changes directions well and exudes confidence not only finishing around the rim, but letting it fly after creating separation from his man on the perimeter. His jumper still needs improvement, but he's the type of guard that puts immense pressure on the defense whenever the ball is in his hands. His impact is felt in a handful of box score categories, though. While he can get buckets in bunches, his overall competitive edge comes to light quickly with his energy on the defensive side of things.     Riverdale walked away with two quality wins on Saturday against Mount St. Joseph and Lincoln Prep (CAN) respectively. Robinson's offensive versatility, athleticism in the open floor, and willingness to defend multiple positions will all play key roles in the Crusaders' success looking ahead this season. He proved his worth as a spot-up threat while others such as point guard [player_tooltip player_id='1588140' first='Ean' last='McLaughlin'] got into the paint for kick-outs or zipped skip passes his way in the corners. On breakaway opportunities, Robinson can explode above the rim and finish with authority, which also played a huge role in establishing early momentum in their win over MSJ. He's a tough defender who can guard four positions with competency at the high school level and is always looking to jump the lane with his inside hand to create deflections for runouts.

The Challenge took place over the weekend in York, Pa as over 120 high schools programs (boys' varsity, junior varsity and girls' varsity) made their way to the Expo Center to compete as they prepare for their upcoming season. An endless list of prospects made their case as stock risers with their production, so there's a chance this article can be broken down into multiple parts. For now, we'll look at the 2026 prospects in Maryland/D.C. who too advantage of the stage.