BCL Semifinals: Frontcourt standouts

The Baltimore Catholic League semifinals took place last night at Loyola Maryland and saw the top two seeds, St. Frances and Mount Carmel, advance to tomorrow night's championship game. Keep reading for a look at a handful of frontcourt prospects who impressed in the semifinal round.    Avery and Spalding went down in a tough overtime defeat but the versatile and athletic forward still stood out as the top long-term prospect in either matchup. He was particularly effective in the second half and overtime, scoring 15 of his 19 points after halftime once he turned his energy up and committed to imposing his will near the basket. Avery flushed a handful of easy dunks and repeatedly found his way to the line where he converted 9 of his 10 attempts. His defensive activity was also noteworthy as he racked up 3 blocks while showcasing his blend of size, mobility, and explosiveness. The ceiling is undeniable for Avery as he learns to consistently streamline his approach.     Coming off the bench as part of Mount Carmel's three-headed frontcourt monster, Rudusans was the most effective of the three while showcasing the full breadth of his versatility. Known as more of a floor-spacer when he first arrived in the States from his native Latvia, he showed his continued development as a rim-runner and interior scorer now that he's added size and strength in the past couple years. He has great hands on the move and swift athleticism to convert efficiently once he catches. His blend of size and offensive portability should translate nicely to the Patriot League at Lehigh.     Despite not registering a shot attempt until the second half, Mancho made an unmistakable impact throughout the game for the Cougars as they cruised into the championship game. It's hard not to appreciate Mancho's old-school commitment to starring in his role, providing nonstop energy and communication as a physical, athletic presence up front. He imposed his will on the glass to the tune of 9 rebounds while getting going as a cleanup man in the second half for 7 points. Mancho also shows intriguing flashes of feel and ballhandling skill when placed on the perimeter offensively. He's a tad undersized relative to high-major bigs in his mold but should be coveted by a wide variety of D1 programs over the next year.     Howard struggled a bit with his scoring efficiency on Monday but nonetheless showed his wares as one of the more skilled unsigned forwards across the region. He contributed across the board with his ability to wear multiple hats offensively thanks to his wide-ranging skillset. He's a confident shooter out to the arc but impresses most with his ball skills and passing feel for a frontcourt player. Howard has reshaped his body over the years and is presently in outstanding condition to be able to keep his motor running at all times. His 8 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 block are a proper indicator of the contributions he could make sooner rather than later for a slew of D1 programs.     Emerging over the course of the year as a valued workhorse up front, Glover gave vital minutes for St. Frances before fouling out in the Panthers' eventual overtime triumph. A rugged forward in the mold of past St. Frances program pieces, he uses his size and broad frame to consistently move bodies and carve out good position inside. He delivered eight crucial points, helping stem the tide of a first half Spalding run to keep the Panthers within reach. Aside from his work inside, Glover also flashed a confident midrange stroke that he deployed in proper situations. He could make a ton of small-college programs happy with his grunt work in the frontcourt.

The Baltimore Catholic League semifinals took place last night at Loyola Maryland and saw the top two seeds, St. Frances and Mount Carmel, advance to tomorrow night's championship game. Keep reading for a look at a handful of frontcourt prospects who impressed in the semifinal round.