WCAC Preview: 6-10

New readers: Use code BLACKFRIDAY2025 for discounted subscription     We broke down our top 5 in our preseason WCAC rankings last week (link can be found <a href="https://prephoops.com/2025/11/wcac-season-preview-1-4/">here</a>), today we will break down teams 6-10. We will include last season's results via Maxpreps in addition to roster changes, projected starting five, and a breakout candidate for each team! Let's dive in!     6. DeMatha   Last season: 23-7 (9-5)   Key Losses: Jacob Wallace (Iowa), Kole Bowser (Furman), Kade Sebastian (American), Charles Thomas (Bowie State), Solomon Davis (Virginia Tech), Caden Walton (Eckerd), Jamaal McKnight (Transfer- LuHi), Christian Proctor (Transfer- LuHi)   Key Additions: Isa Camp, [player_tooltip player_id='2802627' first='Jared' last='Jeffers'] (Transfer- Wheaton)     Projected Starting 5:     '26 Ace Meeks   '26 [player_tooltip player_id='2113258' first='Jaden' last='Shoultz']   '27 [player_tooltip player_id='2975255' first='Donovan' last='Wright']   '27 [player_tooltip player_id='2353578' first='Daniel' last='Abass']   '27 [player_tooltip player_id='2802627' first='Jared' last='Jeffers']     Breakout Candidate: [player_tooltip player_id='2802627' first='Jared' last='Jeffers']     Outlook:   The Stags step into a new season anchored by one of the premier point guards in the area in senior Ace Meeks. The dynamic shooter will swing games with personal 6-0/9-0 scoring runs that will open up driving lanes for his slashers and open up the paint for a nice group of bigs. Senior transfer [player_tooltip player_id='2113258' first='Jaden' last='Shoultz'] enjoyed a productive first season in the league last year with the Stags and should give DM a premier leaper that can slash to the rim and knock down open perimeter jumpers-- if he can ratchet up the defensive intensity, I think he can develop into a defensive guard/wing stopper that will only boost his recruitment. The '27 forward tandem of [player_tooltip player_id='2353578' first='Daniel' last='Abass'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2802627' first='Jared' last='Jeffers'] provides interior scoring, rebounding, roll targets, and some perimeter passing and shooting. Abass has worked hard to add perimeter skill to his game but also ramped up his rebounding this summer to be a consistent double-double producer. Jeffers steps into his junior year ready to show flashes of his athleticism as a lob threat and shot-blocker that performed well this summer against some elite bigs. Love the progression I've seen from '27 [player_tooltip player_id='2975255' first='Donovan' last='Wright'] as a G/W tweener that affects the game with his energy, slashing, defense, and motor. '28 guards Isa Camp and [player_tooltip player_id='2194567' first='Major' last='Jones'] should play bigger roles this season, with the former running the show off the bench as a point guard that impacts the game in ways that don't show up in the box score and with the latter serving as an elite shooter and connector on the wing. '26 [player_tooltip player_id='2575612' first='Jayden' last='Smothers'], '26 Jaylen Ortiz-Olfus and '27 Jonathan Farley will also have the opportunity to carve out consistent roles off the bench as team-first guys that compete at both ends of the floor. Tough group led by Coach Jones that will win close games down the stretch due to execution and defense, could see them playing their way into the top 3 in the league.     7. Bishop Ireton   Last season: 16-14 (3-10)   Key Losses: [player_tooltip player_id='2882025' first='Khyair' last='Phillips'] (Transfer- McNamara), Ripp Kodi (Transfer-Highland)   Key Additions: Jayden Mills (Transfer- McNamara)     Projected Starting 5:   '26 Khaliq Carson   '26 Silas Devonish   '26 Jake Bahr   '26 Evan Brown   '27 Jayden Mills     Breakout Candidate:   Outlook:   Silas Devonish enters his senior year looking to make a few splashes on his way out of Ireton as an unflappable downhill driving guard that excels at putting pressure on the rim at one end while providing pesky POA defense on the other. '26 Jake Bahr gives the Cardinals a consistent scorer that can post up smaller guards, finish through contact in transition, or knock down open looks. Fellow senior Evan Brown has quietly been one of the most consistent and productive bigs in the league for the past two seasons as an undersized forward that fights extremely hard defensively, outworks opponents on the glass, and has improved his finishing touch around the rim. Khaliq Carson gives the Cardinals an ELITE POA defender that gets under his matchup to force turnovers while also remaining productive on the offensive end of the floor as a point guard that can get a step on most local guards but also knock down open C+S looks and serve as a floor general in transition. '26 W Wyatt Klein and '27 G Elijah Simpkins provide versatile floor-spacing that should open up driving lanes for other teammates. Perhaps the most important piece and also one of the more underrated transfers in the area is T15 PH MD junior F Jayden Mills. Mills transfers into Ireton for his final two years to give the Cardinals a low post scoring option that can be dangerous in pick n pop or PnR sets on the perimeter as a skilled forward prospect that has great feel and isn't bothered by double teams. Freshman PG Maina Nkafu should carve out a role with consistent minutes in year one as a steady playmaker that can come in off the bench to provide scoring and playmaking while assimilating into the Ireton system. This will be a competitive group that has a chance to play their way into a higher seed if they lock in on the defensive end of the floor and move the ball quickly to make their opponents guard all 5 guys.     8. Our Lady of Good Counsel   Last season: 10-18 (2-11)   Key Losses: [player_tooltip player_id='2629848' first='Kyle' last='Logan'] (Transfer to Riverdale), Corey Dixon (Transfer to O'Connell)   Key Additions: '28 [player_tooltip player_id='3068852' first='Zach' last='Tchoubfong']   Projected Starting 5:     '28 [player_tooltip player_id='2548919' first='Kyle' last='Brown']   '26 Zac Johnson   '26 [player_tooltip player_id='2316020' first='Jamaal' last='Mansaray']   '27 Israel Tchoubfong   '27 [player_tooltip player_id='2624360' first='John' last='Bancroft']     Breakout Candidate: [player_tooltip player_id='2316020' first='Jamaal' last='Mansaray']     Outlook:   -Coach Kissel steps into a new season with a group that remains largely intact from last season. '28 PG [player_tooltip player_id='2548919' first='Kyle' last='Brown'] should take a step forward as a pass-first point guard that handles ball pressure well while showing a good feel for when to create his own shot and when to pass the rock. [player_tooltip player_id='2316020' first='Jamaal' last='Mansaray'] should be in the running for MIP in the conference as a guard that can really fill it up from all three levels, interested to see how his role evolves after a productive summer with team museum. Senior Zach Johnson should provide some veteran leadership, knocks down open looks, and doesn't make a ton of mistakes when operating from the top of the key. The junior W/F hybrids of [player_tooltip player_id='2353535' first='Izzy' last='Tchoubfong'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2624360' first='John' last='Bancroft'] should give the Falcons a nice blend of defense, slashing, shooting, and sneaky athleticism as this team will mostly rock without a true big man. '27 G [player_tooltip player_id='2629851' first='Jayden' last='Spence'] should give the Falcons a nice change of pace guard that can play off the ball because of his shooting ability while freshman guard Zach Tchboufong should make an impact early as a physical, dynamic guard that should impact at both ends of the floor. '28 W [player_tooltip player_id='2880732' first='Tabe' last='Tarkang'] and '26 F [player_tooltip player_id='2148707' first='Joel' last='Beal'] will round out the rotation and at times start depending on matchups, with the former giving OLGC a switchable wing defender off the bench and the latter providing a pick n pop option and scorer/rebounder in the paint. Entering the season as an underdog but with capable wings, guards, and shooting should allow the Falcons to keep most of their WCAC games competitive while also "stealing" a few matchups that some might count them out of this season.     9. Gonzaga College High   Last season: 29-5 (11-2)   Key Losses: [player_tooltip player_id='1782769' first='Saxton' last='Simley'] (Transfer- Mt. St. Joseph), Malachi Terrell (Transfer- St. James), Nyk Lewis (VCU), Derek Dixon (UNC), Will Harper (Richmond), Alex Touomou (Harvard), Christian Gurdak (Virginia Tech), [player_tooltip player_id='1784444' first='Tyson' last='Harley'] (football), [player_tooltip player_id='1784445' first='Carter' last='Meadows'] (football)   Key Additions: [player_tooltip player_id='2974117' first='Dylan' last='Higganbotham'] (freshman), [player_tooltip player_id='2975282' first='Axton' last='Scott'] (freshman), [player_tooltip player_id='2758600' first='Patrick' last='Shime'] (JV)   Projected Starting 5:     '27 [player_tooltip player_id='2454543' first='Chase' last='Hogg']   '27 Chase Peterson   '28 [player_tooltip player_id='2524418' first='Jahlil' last='Waheed']   '26 [player_tooltip player_id='1784446' first='Allen' last='Mbuyamba']   '28 [player_tooltip player_id='2194753' first='Dave' last='Mbuyamba']     Breakout Candidate: [player_tooltip player_id='2758600' first='Patrick' last='Shime']   Outlook:   -HC Keith Urgo steps into his first season at his alma mater replacing a HOFer on the sidelines and a brand new starting 5. I'm very interested to see how the point guard rotation plays out over the course of the season as Coach Urgo will have the junior duo of pure playmakers in [player_tooltip player_id='2454543' first='Chase' last='Hogg'] and Chase Peterson, incoming '28 PG Matteo Jones, and a pair of talented freshmen in [player_tooltip player_id='2974117' first='Dylan' last='Higganbotham'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2975282' first='Axton' last='Scott']. Hogg and Peterson fill a role as play-making guards that can knock down open shots when called upon, Jones will serve as a dynamic driver that generates paint touches, Higganbotham might be the most explosive and shifty PG of the bunch, and Scott will serve as a cerebral connector that can play on or off the ball as a guard that can shoot it at a high level or find open teammates in ball screen situations. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2524418' first='Jahlil' last='Waheed'] transfers into Gonzaga as a nice off-ball guard that can knock down open shots at a high level while also using that scoring gravity to feed the bigs on the block. [player_tooltip player_id='1784446' first='Allen' last='Mbuyamba'] steps back onto the hardwood from the gridiron ready to impact as an athletic wing that can guard 3s and 4s while doing well on switches on 2s+5s depending on ball screen coverages-- his athleticism and toughness should set the tone for this young team. '28 [player_tooltip player_id='2194753' first='Dave' last='Mbuyamba'] mans the block as a young post player with a soft touch around the rim and magnets for hands on the glass at both ends of the floor. '28 [player_tooltip player_id='2758600' first='Patrick' last='Shime'] brings an intriguing blend of slashing, C+S production, and some nice movement skills at 6'7 on the wing. '27 6'3 [player_tooltip player_id='2762141' first='Jacob' last='Williams'] and '27 6'6 F Jack Lynch round out the rotation as stellar JV performers that have grinded for a varsity role. With so many new pieces to integrate and establish a new culture under Coach Urgo, I expect this Gonzaga group to find their identity towards the end of the year and be a tough out due to their relative depth at each position and attention to detail defensively.       10. St. Mary's Ryken     Last season: 5-24, (0-14)   Key Losses: DJ Robinson (Transfer- Riverdale), [player_tooltip player_id='2353558' first='Isaiah' last='Carpenter'] (Transfer- Clinton Grace), Mason Hopper (St. Mary's)   Key Additions: Francesco Franchi (International-Spain), [player_tooltip player_id='2921754' first='Landon' last='Posey'] (Freshman), [player_tooltip player_id='3068845' first='Andre' last='Spencer'] (freshman)     Projected Starting 5:     '29 [player_tooltip player_id='2921754' first='Landon' last='Posey']   '26 [player_tooltip player_id='2547171' first='Elijah' last='Miller']   '26 [player_tooltip player_id='1782589' first='Aiden' last='Blackwell']   '29 [player_tooltip player_id='3068845' first='Andre' last='Spencer']   '27 Francesco Franchi     Breakout Candidate: Francesco Franchi   Outlook:   -Coach Jamal Hulum enters his third season at SMR looking to build around a brand new roster. Spanish national Francesco Franchi should surprise people as a forward prospect that should make an immediate impact as a 6'7 lefty that can score through double teams and in the paint with a soft touch. '26 [player_tooltip player_id='2547171' first='Elijah' last='Miller'] should remain one of the leading scorers on the team as a prospect that can get a bucket from all 3 levels. Freshman PG [player_tooltip player_id='2921754' first='Landon' last='Posey'] steps into a big role from the jump as a scoring PG that doesn't need a ball screen to get to his spots, can deliver a flurry of different passes, and can really push the tempo in transition. '26 [player_tooltip player_id='1782589' first='Aiden' last='Blackwell'], 28 [player_tooltip player_id='2547178' first='Aaron' last='Wise'] Jr and '28 [player_tooltip player_id='2547164' first='Bryce' last='Williams'] will provide pesky POA defense while distributing the basketball at a high level and knocking down open C+S looks in the halfcourt. Incoming freshman [player_tooltip player_id='3068845' first='Andre' last='Spencer'] should leave his impact on the game at both ends of the floor as a dynamic athlete that can finish plays at tough angles above or around the rim. '28 Calvert transfer [player_tooltip player_id='2731744' first='Jayden' last='Hyman'] should carve out a nice role for himself as a promising young forward prospect with a developing set of post moves around the basket. This group might struggle to generate offense for themselves in the halfcourt from time to time but could be competitive if they really lock in as a unit at the defensive end of the floor.

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