Early Preview: 2022 BCL Prospects to Watch Pt. 1

We’re a little over a month out until the high school basketball scene gets into the swing of things. It’s never too early to get some preseason preview content out and over the next week, I’ll be breaking down some of the prospects in various classes who participate in the Baltimore Catholic League. There is a healthy list of 2022 prospects to keep eyes on, so this will be a two-part release. [player_tooltip player_id="837927" first="Cameron" last="Whitmore"] | 6’7 | Archbishop Spalding It’s tough to start anywhere but with the reigning BCL Player of the Year. Whitmore exploded into a nationally coveted prospect this spring and summer, but for those who are local and loyal BCL followers, the national writers were just late to the party. Now deciding between Villanova and Illinois, Whitmore will embark on a senior season as the top prospect in a very talented BCL pool. His overall versatility, elite athleticism and experience of playing in this league will all be key as the Cavs look to capture a BCL title after losing in the semifinals last season against the eventual champions in John Carroll. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/02/Jordan-Pennick.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1134511" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/02/Jordan-Pennick-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="954640" first="Jordan" last="Pennick"] | 6’1 | Archbishop Spalding Pennick has a strong argument as the league’s best backcourt defender. He’s a major weapon for head coach Josh Pratt because of his willingness to match up against the opposition’s top perimeter threat and make life extremely hard for them. Pennick is more than just a defensive presence. He can knock down catch-and-shoot three’s with regularity and uses his football instincts to embrace physicality on his trips to the basket. [caption id="attachment_1221003" align="alignnone" width="200"]<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/06/Scott-Cam.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1221003" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/06/Scott-Cam-200x300.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="300" /></a> Photo: @megelee64[/caption] [player_tooltip player_id="1198795" first="CJ" last="Scott"] | 6’5 | Archbishop Spadling The X-factor. That’s what I categorize Scott as for this Spalding team. If he’s locked in and focused all year, they should develop into a giant and make a huge push not only for the BCL title, but also the MIAA. Scott has the size, skill and makeup to be an extremely valuable player. What I will be watching closely this season with Scott is whether he puts it together every single game for 32 minutes. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/Tyheil-Peterson.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1282033" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/Tyheil-Peterson-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="904646" first="Tyheil" last="Peterson"] | 5’11 | Archbishop Spalding Peterson often times gets swept by the wayside in conversation when Spalding is brought up, but that’s a big mistake. Especially in games when Pennick has to utilize most of his energy on the defensive end, Peterson has come up big and been a steady presence in the scoring column next to Whitmore. He’s a quick, crafty guard who can get downhill and score around the rim or the mid-range with pull up jumpers. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/06/Rivers-Josh-Head-Shot.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1219218" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/06/Rivers-Josh-Head-Shot-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="904660" first="Josh" last="Rivers"] | 6’4 | Archbishop Spalding Rivers had a tremendous showing during the June Live Period and will head into his senior season with budding confidence. He also fills an important role for this team as the true floor spacing presence that allows the other four players mentioned above to take advantage of driving lanes. In previous years, Rivers played in spurts, but his long-range shooting will be such a key piece for the Cavs especially in playoff games, that I see his minutes increasing significantly this year. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/06/Deon-Perry.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1219975" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/06/Deon-Perry-300x225.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="225" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="904628" first="Deon" last="Perry"] | 5’9 | Mt. Carmel Perry was on a mission this summer and used the DMV Live stage to cement his argument as one of, if not the top point guard in the state. His ability to control a game both as a scorer or playmaker is unmatched at his position. It looks as if the BCL is shaping into form with five very strong teams. Mt. Carmel looks to sit in the fifth slot of that conversation, but Perry is the type of player who helps a team’s chances to pull major upsets throughout the course of a season. Perry will head to Loyola (MD) next fall. [player_tooltip player_id="904627" first="Jordan" last="Green"] | 6’8 | St. Maria Goretti Green has always been an intriguing prospect to me because of his size and potential. He still needs polish with his overall skillset, but his makeup and athleticism always results in impressive plays. Goretti will lean heavily on his shoulder this season to protect the paint and will need more production from him on the offensive end if they want to challenge any of the group of five teams consisting of St. Frances, Mount St. Joseph, John Carroll, Archbishop Spalding and Mount Carmel. [player_tooltip player_id="904636" first="Jordan" last="Nkoa-Abessolo"] | 6’5 | St. Maria Goretti Abessolo is a 6-foot-5 bull in a china shop who is the definition of a hardhat player. He’s featured on the wing, but is an elite rebounder for his position thanks to his ability to take on physicality. That part of his game also translates during his drives to the rim where he’s proven to finish through contact. A high energy player, Abessolo will be a catalyst for this Goretti team and be expected to contain the opposing team’s top player, which he is capable of doing.