Xaverian Classic Preview: Friday/Saturday Players to Watch, Picks

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This will be the seventh year of the Xaverian Classic and it could very well be considered the best pool of teams in its existence. For this preview article, I'll stick to Friday and Saturday's slate with Sunday's games being determined on who wins the bracket games on Saturday (final two games of the day). </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"textAlign":"center"} --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-center">FRIDAY</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>5:10PM Benedictine (VA) vs Good Counsel (MD)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Good Counsel players to watch: 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2316020' first='Jamaal' last='Mansaray'], 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2148707' first='Joel' last='Beal'], 2026 KJ O'Quinn, 2027 Israel Tchoubfong, 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2624360' first='John' last='Bancroft'], 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2629851' first='Jayden' last='Spence'], 2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2548919' first='Kyle' last='Brown']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Benedictine players to watch: 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2175333' first='Mannie' last='Villegas'], 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2459364' first='Ryan' last='Flippo']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>My pick:</em> <strong>Good Counsel</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>6:50PM Malvern Prep (PA) vs Bishop Ireton (VA)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bishop Ireton players to watch: 2026 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1782690' first='Silas' last='Devonish']</strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/silas-devonish/"></a> , 2026 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1782688' first='Khaliq' last='Carson']</strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/khaliq-carson/"></a> , 2026 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2347772' first='Jake' last='Bahr']</strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jake-bahr/"></a> , 2026 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1782685' first='Evan' last='Brown']</strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/evan-brown-2/"></a> , 2026 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2478844' first='Wyatt' last='Klein']</strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/wyatt-klein/"></a> , 2027 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2458557' first='Jayden' last='Mills']</strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jayden-mills/"></a> , 2027 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2470580' first='Elijah' last='Simpkins']</strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/elijah-simpkins/"></a> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Malvern Prep players to watch: 2027 Marvin Reed, 2027 Nick Harken, 2027 Collin Romanczuk, 2028 Logan Chwastyck</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>My pick:</em> <em>Bishop Ireton</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>8:30PM Santa Margarita (CA) vs Bishop McNamara (MD)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bishop McNamara players to watch: 2026&nbsp;<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1782660' first='Qayden' last='Samuels']</strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/qayden-samuels/"><strong></strong><strong></strong><strong></strong><strong></strong></a><a></a>&nbsp;, 2026 Prince-Alex Moody (Indiana commit), 2027&nbsp;<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2353561' first='Brandon' last='Woodard']</strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/brandon-woodard-2/"><strong></strong><strong></strong><strong></strong><strong></strong></a><a></a>&nbsp;, 2027&nbsp;<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2454911' first='Jahmai' last='Drayton']</strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jahmai-drayton/"><strong></strong><strong></strong><strong></strong></a><a></a>&nbsp;, 2027&nbsp;<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2353528' first='Kirby' last='Duran']</strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/kirby-duran-2/"><strong></strong><strong></strong><strong></strong><strong></strong></a><a></a>&nbsp;, 2028 Terry Brooks, 2028&nbsp;<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2882025' first='Khyair' last='Phillips']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Santa Margarita players to watch: 2026 Kaiden Bailey, 2026 Drew Anderson, 2026 Brayden Kyman, 2026 Markee White, 2026 Jackson Bradley</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>My pick:</em> <strong>Bishop McNamara</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"textAlign":"center"} --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading has-text-align-center">SATURDAY</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>10:30AM Loyola Blakefied (MD) vs Meade (MD)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Meade players to watch: 2026 Ryden Rodney-Sandy, 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2575614' first='Keon' last='Scott']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Loyola Blakefield players to watch: 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2546118' first='Ayo' last='Olofintila'], 2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2983862' first='Kaleb' last='Haysbert']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>My pick: </em><strong>Meade</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>12:15pm McDonogh (MD) vs St. Andrew's (MD)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>St. Andrew players to watch: 2026 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1494165' first='Jayson' last='Peterson']</strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jayson-peterson/"></a> , 2026 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2252275' first='Karon' last='Bailey']</strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/karon-bailey-2/"></a> , 2026 Sifeng Huan, 2027 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2888893' first='Devin' last='Wingfield']</strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/devon-wingfield/"></a> , 2027 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2353583' first='Damon' last='Nelson']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>McDonogh players to watch: 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1782602' first='BJ' last='Hopkins'], 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1782667' first='Marcus' last='Williams'], 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2455425' first='Carlos' last='Ferguson'], 2027 Joey Clark, 2027 Gavin Delancy 2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2548892' first='Maurice' last='Costley'], 2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2549594' first='Ben' last='Orthwein'], 2029 [player_tooltip player_id='3072084' first='Christian' last='Rhodes']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>My pick:</em> <strong>St. Andrew's</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>2:00PM Malvern Prep (PA) vs Bullis (MD)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bullis players to watch: 2026 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1588109' first='Finley' last='Billy']</strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/finley-billy/"></a> (Penn commit), 2028 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2194788' first='Xavier' last='Skipworth']</strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/xavier-skipworth/"></a> , 2028 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2454536' first='Zayvion' last='Williams']</strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/zayvion-williams/"></a> , 2028 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2353638' first='Kevin' last='McLinton Jr.']</strong>, 2029 [player_tooltip player_id='2982809' first='Brady' last='Potter']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Malvern Prep players to watch: 2027 Marvin Reed, 2027 Nick Harken, 2027 Collin Romanczuk, 2028 Logan Chwastyck</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>My pick:</em> <strong>Bullis</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>3:45PM Santa Margarita (CA) vs DeMatha (MD)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DeMatha players to watch: 2026&nbsp;<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1782654' first='Ashton' last='Meeks']</strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/ashton-meeks/"><strong></strong><strong></strong><strong></strong></a><a></a>&nbsp;, 20226&nbsp;<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2113258' first='Jaden' last='Shoultz']</strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jaden-shoultz/"><strong></strong><strong></strong><strong></strong></a><a></a>&nbsp;, 2027&nbsp;<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2353578' first='Daniel' last='Abass']</strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/daniel-abass/"><strong></strong><strong></strong><strong></strong></a><a></a>&nbsp;, 2027&nbsp;<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2802627' first='Jared' last='Jeffers']</strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jared-jeffers-2/"><strong></strong><strong></strong><strong></strong></a><a></a>&nbsp;, 2027&nbsp;<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2975255' first='Donovan' last='Wright']</strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/donovan-wright-2/"><strong></strong><strong></strong><strong></strong></a><a></a>&nbsp;, 2028 Isa Camp</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Santa Margarita players to watch: 2026 Kaiden Bailey, 2026 Drew Anderson, 2026 Brayden Kyman, 2026 Markee White, 2026 Jackson Bradley</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>My pick: </em><strong>DeMatha</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>5:30PM Georgetown Prep (MD) vs Good Counsel (MD)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Good Counsel players to watch: 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2316020' first='Jamaal' last='Mansaray'], 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2148707' first='Joel' last='Beal'], 2026 KJ O'Quinn, 2027 Israel Tchoubfong, 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2624360' first='John' last='Bancroft'], 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2629851' first='Jayden' last='Spence'], 2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2548919' first='Kyle' last='Brown']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Georgetown Prep players to watch: 2026 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1891144' first='Sinan' last='Huan']</strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/sinan-huan/"></a> (Purdue commit), 2027 Selim Yalcin, 2027 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2454538' first='Bruiser' last='Edwards']</strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/bruiser-edwards/"></a> , 2027 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2454539' first='Jarrard' last='Desire']</strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jarrard-desire/"></a> , 2028 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2880738' first='Cole' last='Pierre-Louis']</strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/cole-pierre-louis/"></a> , 2028 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2524416' first='Majok' last='Aguek']</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>My pick:</em> <strong>Georgetown Prep</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>7:15PM Holy Cross (NY) vs Jackson-Reed (MD)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jackson-Reed players to watch: 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2876205' first='James' last='Walker'], 2027 <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2327613' first='Averi' last='Knight']</strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/averi-knight/"></a> , 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2623334' first='Lane' last='Mahan']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Holy Cross players to watch: 2026 Jahzir Crawford, 2027 Donovan Medley, 2028 Devin Bey, 2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2194749' first='Payton' last='Wilson'], 2029 Malachi Miller</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>My pick:</em> <strong>Holy Cross</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->