2025-26 MoCo Preview: Award Candidates

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2025-26 season is almost underway! Montgomery County is well-respected through Maryland and offers a ton of talent. This article will help break down some names through the entirety of the MoCo hoops region that recruiters and fans should get accustomed to as the start as the season looms. Read on to see some of my candidates for end-of-season honors/awards through all of Montgomery County!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Player of the Year Favorites</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>'26 G/F [player_tooltip player_id='2353518' first='Babatunde' last='Oladotun'] / Blake</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Amidst Baba's reclass to 2026 and his upcoming commitment, he will likely be the glaring favorite to come away with Player of the Year honors. His all-around impact on the game is clear to see while watching him play. Major D-1 talent with sights on the next level following a dominant summer at 17u.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>'26 G [player_tooltip player_id='1782664' first='Tavares' last='Vaughn-Cooper'] / Richard Montgomery</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Amongst the league leaders in scoring last season and looking for more this season. Boogie Cooper should be expecting to see some more movement in his recruitment if he can capitalize on a career season last year. Explosive scoring guard with big game ability.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>'26 G [player_tooltip player_id='2148722' first='Tahj' last='Martin'] / Blake</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tahj is an underrated choice I have for the award. Steady point guard that has improved his game year-by-year. Had a busy and productive summer with [program_tooltip program_id='2458549' first='Inspire' last='Elite'] and Blake HS during the fall. Anticipating to have his best season, hoping to add to his current slate of three D1 offers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>'27 G [player_tooltip player_id='2639997' first='Gabe' last='Colston'] / John F. Kennedy</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gabe has been putting in respectable work over the last 2 years and proved that he will be amongst the best of Montgomery County this season and next. He has exploded during summer and fall play with JFK as a consistent leading scorer and I expect to see his play continue to rapidly progress.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Most Improved Favorites</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>'26 G [player_tooltip player_id='2673380' first='Ahmed' last='Hassan'] / Winston Churchill</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ahmed really impressed our scout team this summer at Capitol Hoops. Earned a spot in the rankings and is set for a big senior year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>'26 G [player_tooltip player_id='2886343' first='Bobby' last='Zedak'] / Whitman</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Put in some major work this summer and is looking for his best season on Varsity. I expect to see his scoring averaging jump to double-digits.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>'26 G [player_tooltip player_id='2866006' first='Kush' last='Malhotra'] / Northwest</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kush had incredible production during the summer and will take on his biggest role as a senior with Northwest.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>'26 G [player_tooltip player_id='2252282' first='Eli' last='Konkler'] / Blake</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Eli was the leading scorer for Blake across a number of events over the summer. Showcased the versatility in his game and should have a big-time year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>'26 G [player_tooltip player_id='2540468' first='Tyler' last='Gramling'] / Sherwood</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tyler could be on track for a major year with Sherwood. Will be the lead guard and has the experience and skillset to be a force night-in and night-out.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>'26 G/F [player_tooltip player_id='2866436' first='Timothy' last='Byrd'] / Bethesda Chevy-Chase</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Timothy has impressed each of our scouts with his undeniable game over the summer. Makes a true difference for his team consistently and should get well-deserved recognition this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>'28 F [player_tooltip player_id='2194751' first='Charlie' last='Orcev'] / Richard Montgomery</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Charlie is making the transfer from a G-Town Prep to RM and could be set for a breakout type of season. Has shown some flashes of a solid 2-way wing.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">MoCo All-Defense Team Favorites</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>'26 G [player_tooltip player_id='2632433' first='Jaylin' last='Ouattara'] / Northwest</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>'26 G [player_tooltip player_id='2252255' first='Armani' last='Fowlkes'] / Blake</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>'26 F [player_tooltip player_id='2347656' first='George' last='Comer'] / Blake</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>'26 F [player_tooltip player_id='2866353' first='Jack' last='Allen'] / Bethesda Chevy-Chase</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>'26 G Yafet Kedebe / John F. Kennedy</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>'26 F [player_tooltip player_id='2893755' first='Khaydar' last='Gilmetdinov'] / Winston Churchill</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>'26 F [player_tooltip player_id='2893776' first='Justin' last='Townsend'] / Springbrook</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>'26 G [player_tooltip player_id='2540467' first='Bryce' last='Freeman'] / John F. Kennedy</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>'27 F [player_tooltip player_id='2623243' first='Bryson' last='Mims'] / Southern</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>'27 G [player_tooltip player_id='2722738' first='Justin' last='Harris'] / Northwest</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>'27 G [player_tooltip player_id='2886450' first='Maxwell' last='Williams'] / Whitman</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>'28 F [player_tooltip player_id='3036532' first='Maxwell' last='Walton'] / Whitman</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->