Mount St. Joe vs Concordia Prep Evaluations

The high school season for the private schools in Baltimore have officially began their 2025-26 seasons, so I made my way to Towson, Md. to watch Concordia Prep host Mount St. Joe. It was a back and forth outing as Concordia tried to pull off what would've been a major upset as the MIAA B Conference team hosting the MIAA A Conference power, but the Gaels of MSJ ultimately prevailed by a final score of 67-57.   Below are some player evals from the contest.    Ranson enters the season in a strong position to make a run for BCL and MIAA POY. He netted a game-high 23 points in the win earlier this week and was the offensive catalyst his team was desperately looking for in the second quarter to gain enough momentum and take control of the game heading into halftime. Many of his first half buckets came in transition after turnovers in a half court defensive setting or as a result of quick shots from Concordia. The St. Joe's commit threw down a couple dunks on the night, hit a few of his patented fallaway three-pointers to demoralize his matchup, and frequented the charity stripe in the final two frame as he got to the cup and forced the ref's whistle.     Chaplin is a prospect who grows on me with each viewing. A 6-foot-6 shotmaker from the wing, he provides valuable length and versatility on the defensive end to present as a two-way impact player. He was lethal as the corner man when the Concordia guards broke the MSJ press and forces rotations as a spot-up shooter and even hit an important triple from the wing after a timely lift to keep his team in striking distance after the MSJ run. The one aspect of Chaplin's game that folks will be familiar with moving forward is his athleticism in the open floor. He didn't get many opportunities at all in this showing to display it, but his 16 points were critical positioning Concordia to always have a chance in this contest.     Madden is one of the more intriguing 2026 guards in the B Conference to keep eyes on this season as the 6-foot-1 combo guard boasts a strong frame that he used to bully his way to the rim for scores. He's experienced and seems to have stepped up as the senior leader for this group that's littered with talented juniors and underclassmen. This team will go as far as Madden can take them because it'll boil down to his consistency as a scorer, keeping guys in check vocally, and remaining poised in pressure environments. He followed up Chaplin in this one with 11 points. He should be a name on radars for DIII programs around the area.     Jackson caught me by surprise with his stout defensive play in this game. It truly didn't matter which of MSJ's guards he was assigned to, the senior guard sat down in a defensive stance, moved well laterally to keep his matchup in front of him, and on multiple occasions pick-pocketed his man as they attempted to crossover and drive to the rim. Jackson finished effectively through contact on his own drives to the cup and hit a couple of tough mid-range jumpers off the bounce. Continuing to apply this sort of pressure and presence on the perimeter defensively will be key in Concordia Prep becoming a contender in the B Conference. Tightening up his handle should be a main focus as DIII or JuCo programs begin to take note on his skillset.     Other than Ranson, there were some scoring struggles throughout the MSJ rotation, but Word was key off the bench as a spark. What he lacks in size he makes up for with a lighting quick first step and ability to create space on an island with his defender or quickly attack closeouts for scoop layups before the defense can rotate. He followed Ranson for the Gaels with nine points in this showing and provided some energy when his team needed it most in the second quarter as Concordia's confidence was at an all-time high.     Colvin is another name on this Concordia Prep team to keep eyes on this season as he adjusts to a higher level of play after transferring from Perry Hall Christian School. Unlike most prospect who come out of that particular league, Colvin's athleticism not only matches up with others in the B Conference, but I'd say he has a real argument as being the top high-flyer. You could tell he caught MSJ off guard in the first quarter when he rose up for a two-handed flush that rocked the rim and brought the crowd to a frenzy. His overall game is still a work in progress, but he's also a capable shotmaker with time and space. He also brings value to the defensive end with his athleticism as he alters shots around the rim, poses as a rebounding presence, and will continue to be more of a direct impact as he adjusts to the timing/physicality that he's been used to.     This was Simley's second game with his new team as he is still finding his niche within the offense of when to pick and choose his spots. There's high expectations for the 6-foot-7 wing after the past two transfers from the WCAC to MSJ include Amani Hansberry (Va Tech) and Jordan Brathwaite (Yale), two prospects who firmly left their mark on the league before advancing to the collegiate stage. For Simley it'll be about emerging as another scoring threat alongside Ranson and using his tools to be one of the most effective defenders in the MIAA and BCL. He struggled to gain total control over the ball and create looks for himself, but the gravity that Ranson or the other quick-twitch guards demand when they get into the paint should free him up for consistent looks off the catch. Simley finished this one with eight points.

The high school season for the private schools in Baltimore have officially began their 2025-26 seasons, so I made my way to Towson, Md. to watch Concordia Prep host Mount St. Joe. It was a back and forth outing as Concordia tried to pull off what would've been a major upset as the MIAA B Conference team hosting the MIAA A Conference power, but the Gaels of MSJ ultimately prevailed by a final score of 67-57.