Baltimore City Preview: Player of the Year Candidates for the 2019-20 Season
This Friday, public schools will hold official practices/try outs and begin their missions for the 2019-20 season. As we continue to roll out our preseason previews here at Prep Hoops, player of the year candidates always seems to stir up…
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Continue ReadingThis Friday, public schools will hold official practices/try outs and begin their missions for the 2019-20 season. As we continue to roll out our preseason previews here at Prep Hoops, player of the year candidates always seems to stir up some debate. So without further ado, let the debates begin. Here are the player of the year candidates for Baltimore city.
Justin Lewis | 6’8 | Poly ’20
Lewis has been an impact since he stepped on the floor as a freshman at Calvert Hall. Since transferring to Poly, Lewis has made the Engineers the juggernaut of not only the public school conferences, but all teams considered in the area. The 6-foot-8 versatile forward who committed to Marquette this summer should have his most dominant year yet as the Engineers gear up to chase their fourth-straight Class 3A title (third with Lewis on the roster). Lewis’ versatility has expanded tremendously since transferring to Poly to the point where he can single-handily dominate a game on both ends. Lewis is certainly the favorite for this award heading into this season.
Will Thomas | 6’5 | Mervo ’20
Thomas returns to the court after sitting out last season with a Jones’ fracture. The 6-foot-5 guard/wing is one of the smoothest play makers with the ball that you’ll find in Baltimore. His versatility to score at all three levels make him a tough match up and when defenses try to key on him, he makes the accurate reads to open teammates. Sitting out the entire 2018-19 season. Thomas has been outstanding in fall league play and I expect that to translate into the regular season as he leads the Mustangs in a 4A class that is wide open.
Rahim Ali | 5’11 | Poly ’20
Ali is one of the best floor generals in the entire DMV area. His ability to control a game has been evident since he helped orchestrate Poly’s first 3A title run as a freshman. Since that time, he’s grown as a scorer to go with his advanced feel for the game as a passer. It makes him a nightmare for opposing coaches to prepare for. While Lewis is the most skilled player on the Engineers’ roster, Ali may be the most important because of the intensity he plays with. His energy clearly runs through the team and when he sets that tone early, Poly is extremely tough to beat.
Mike Gray | 5’11 | Lake Clifton ’20
Lake Clifton loaded up with some quality transfers this summer, but keeping Gray in place was most important. The 5-foot-11 guard was instrumental in their Class 1A title run last season as he provides endless aggression on both ends. Gray is one of the toughest guards in the DMV and you can tell that with the effort and pride he takes guarding the ball. He’s been known for his downhill attack with the ball, but has improved over time as a jump shooter. He needs to become more consistent beyond the arc, but is certainly capable of hitting a few if he sees one go in early. Look for the Lakers to be right back at the Xfinity Center this March and it will be because Gray is leading the way.
Ahmad Harrison | 6’1 | City ’21
Harrison transferred to City this summer after leading Gerstell to back-to-back MIAA B Conference championships. The 6-foot-1 guard can impact the box score in many ways and will have the ball in his hands often at City. The Knights have a nice roster on paper and will be interesting to watch how they monitor those touches, but Harrison has been successful at stepping up to the challenge and coming through in clutch situations. On top of that, he is an above average rebounder for his position. I expect him to post a pretty impressive stat line while keeping City a tough opponent in conference play.