MPSSAA State Tournament: Baltimore City Contenders

<p>The MPSSAA State Tournament tips off in first-round fashion tomorrow as public school programs from around the state begin their journey to a potential state title. For those who are unaware, the classifications are broken up into 1A, 2A, 3A and 4A.</p>   <p>For this series, we'll rank the contenders in each county as the sprint to UMBC begins!</p>   <p>Be sure to check out the <a href="http://the%20mpssaa%20state%20tournament%20tips%20off%20in%20first-round%20fashion%20tomorrow%20as%20public%20school%20programs%20from%20around%20the%20state%20begin%20their%20journey%20to%20a%20potential%20state%20title.%20for%20those%20who%20are%20unaware,%20the%20classifications%20are%20broken%20up%20into%201a,%202a,%203a%20and%204a.%20%20for%20this%20series,%20we'll%20rank%20the%20contenders%20in%20each%20county%20as%20the%20sprint%20to%20umbc%20begins!/"><strong>Howard County contenders here.</strong></a></p>   <p>For <strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/2026/02/mpssaa-state-tournament-baltimore-county-contenders/">Baltimore County, click here.</a></strong></p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">1. City</h2>   <p><em>Class 3A</em></p>   <p>Nowhere else to start but with the reigning 3A champs who have been playing their best basketball as of late en route to another city championship. The balance of scoring, shooting, playmaking and toughness that head coach Omarr Smith has his group playing with is the reason for their seven-game winning streak that should bode well into state tourney play. 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2722710' first='Camari' last='Stewart'], 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='3275517' first='Jayden' last='Hargrove'], 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2926169' first='Tourean' last='Thompson'], 2027 Ethan Chinnia, 2026 Khari Gregg, 2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2935812' first='Noah' last='Cowan'] and 2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2951999' first='RJ' last='Muhammad'] make up the bulk of the rotation and production as the Knights enjoy a first-round by and an overall favorable path to the Elite 8 before things shake up.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2. SEED</h2>   <p><em>Class 1A</em></p>   <p>The battle in the Class 1A bracket will be thick between Baltimore City programs. SEED enters looking to avenge last season's loss in the state title game. Having, in my opinion, the City Player of the Year in Khaled All-Mateen Evans as the engine bodes well for the Sabers' chances in doing just that. He's one of the more potent scorers in the public school landscape along with having the support of 2026 Malachi Parrott and 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='3276191' first='Omar' last='Williams'] in the frontcourt to clean up the glass when needed, it makes for a tough matchup for opposing 1A programs. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">3. Edmondson-Westside</h2>   <p><em>Class 1A</em></p>   <p>Another Class 1A contender is the Red Storm, who have proven themselves as a legitimate title contender shortly removed after losing in the city title game against City. Similar to the Knights, Edmondson gets it done by committee thanks to the play of Jordan Andrews, Charles Hodges, NaShawn Williams, [player_tooltip player_id='2895668' first='Carter' last='Brown'] and Robert Price</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">4. Lake Clifton</h2>   <p><em>Class 1A</em></p>   <p>Once again, head coach Hermann Harried proves why he's one of the best to ever walk the sidelines in Baltimore as he has the Lakers sitting with a 15-7 overall record and prepped to make a run in the Class 1A bracket. With how this particular class works despite having the top seed in their pod, they'll play ACCE, who also had a first-round bye, on Monday. Similar to City, Lake Clifton's path to the Elite 8 is favorable and when you factor in Harried's history of winning state titles with regularity, there's no doubt that his group will be mentally prepared for what comes with the ups-and-downs of state tournament play.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">5. Dunbar</h2>   <p><em>Class 2A</em></p>   <p>The Poets have plenty of history behind them and will always be looked at as a brand name in state tournament play. After an impressive run in last year's event where they came up just short to the eventual champions in Largo, they'll look to avenge and get back to reestablishing themselves as a juggernaut in the class. They have a first-round bye and a favorable path to get to the Sweet 16 and a strong chance of advancing further before things shake up.</p>   <p></p>

The MPSSAA State Tournament tips off in first-round fashion tomorrow as public school programs from around the state begin their journey to a potential state title. For those who are unaware, the classifications are broken up into 1A, 2A, 3A and 4A.