2009 Tournament Teams

Gonzaga College High School (Washington, DC)
For over thirty years Gonzaga High School has been a prep hoops power in the Washington DC Metropolitan Area. In the twenty year history of the Gonzaga DC Classic, the Purple Eagles have recorded eight championships, including the last three. Host Coach Steve Turner led a young Gonzaga team to a 29-5 record last year, the WCAC finals, first place in the Gonzaga DC Classic Tournament and first place in the prestigious Alhambra Tournament. The Purple Eagles, with only one senior starter, were rated number four in the Washington Post in 2008-2009. Gonzaga enters the 2009-2010 season with the daunting task of replacing All-Met center Ian Hummer (Princeton University), starting forward Andrew Steritt as well as key substitutes Connor Ford and Patrick Wolf.

Coach Turner returns three senior players who have already committed to Division I Colleges: Guards Tyler Thornton (Duke), Cedrick Lindsay (Richmond), and swingman Malcolm Lemmons (Robert Morris University) to lead a deep and talented team. The 6’2" Thornton, a four year varsity player who made First Team All-Met as a junior, and Lindsay, a three year varsity player who made Honorable Mention All-Met as a junior, combined for about 32 points, 11 assists, 12 rebounds, and 5 steals a game last year. The 6’1" Lindsay, like Thornton, can play both the point guard and wing guard positions. “I definitely think that with Tyler and Cedric we have the best backcourt in the (D.C.) area, and one of the best backcourts in the country in high school basketball,” said Coach Turner. Turner added “Tyler and Cedric are great players who are also really outstanding young men and excellent students. Senior guard Danny Williams returns to provide additional veteran depth in the backcourt. Malcolm Lemmons is a tough, athletic 6’4" senior who can play small forward or power forward. Lemmons had an excellent junior year, averaging 9 points and 4 rebounds a game, after playing on the junior varsity as a sophomore. Coach Turner is fortunate to have a very deep, promising junior class this year. Several of these players had a chance to earn valuable varsity playing time as sophomores last year. 5’11" Cahli Thomas was the team’s first guard off the bench last year. An athletic, quick guard Thomas hit clutch three point field goals in WCAC games against Good Counsel, McNamara, and DeMatha; 6’4" forward Kevin Hogan, one of the top prep football quarterbacks in the area, is a tough inside/ outside swingman who started several games for Coach Turner as a sophomore. 6’8" forward Ben Dickinson is a skilled, smooth forward who should be much improved this year after a summer out of weightlifting. 6’0" guard Malek Williams, son of former University of Maryland and NBA great Buck Williams, is an excellent defensive guard off the bench. The leading scorer, rebounder, and shot blocker on the Gonzaga Junior Varsity last year, junior center Oliver Ellison 6’8’, is a fast-improving big man who could start for the Purple Eagles this year.

Another promising young big man coming up from last year’s Junior Varsity is Will Rassman. Rassman, a sophomore, is an excellent shooter. Two very talented freshmen, 5’11" point guard Nate Britt and 6’6" center/forward Kris Jenkins, could be varsity contributors this year. “Nate and Kris are very talented, mature, smart players for being freshmen,” said Coach Turner. “They are obviously very good, young players who could be really good for us in their careers here, and as freshmen, they both have a chance to help this year if they keep working as hard as they have been.” Coach Turner has been the Washington Post WCAC Coach of the Year the last two years. In just five years he has made Gonzaga a nationally recognized prep hoops power. In addition to producing excellent basketball players, the Gonzaga program has been sending its excellent student-athletes to top academic colleges such as Harvard University, Princeton University, University of Virginia, Duke University, Lafayette, and Richmond. In the twenty five years since current Georgetown University coach, John Thompson III, a 1984 Purple Eagle All-Met, headed off to Princeton University, ten Gonzaga basketball players have matriculated at Ivy League colleges. Though Coach Turner and the Purple Eagles will be hard pressed to replace the strong, tough Ian Hummer in the post this year, Coach Turner is optimistic about the team’s chances for a successful season in 2009-2010. “I think we have a chance to be very good,” said Coach Turner. “Our kids worked very hard in the off-season; our summer teams played well; and the kids worked hard on their games. We have some very talented young players, but we’re also fortunate to have great seniors like Tyler, Cedric, and Malcolm. The WCAC is always very tough of course, but I think we’ll be up there with most of the best teams in the league. I am very excited about how good we can be.”

BISHOP MCNAMARA (Forestville, MD)
The McNamara Mustangs return to the Gonzaga DC Classic following a record of 22-11 during the 2008-2009 season. They were runners-up in the Dell Curry/Bojangles Holiday Tournament, finished their official season as Semi-Finalist in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) and participated in the 49th Annual Alhambra National Catholic Invitational Tournament in Cumberland, MD. This year’s squad will include two returning starters. The Mustangs will be young, but coach Marty Keithline is excited by his teams speed and athleticism. The Mustangs will be led by 6’7" senior forward Brandon Coleman, an elite wide receiver who has received scholarship offers from football powers Notre Dame, Maryland, Wake Forest, Boston College, Rutgers and Miami to name a few. He finished last season with 112 blocked shots, averaging 3.4 per game. The guard position will be covered by returnees 6’1" Marcus Pilgrim, 5’9" Ibn Muhammad, 6’2" Terell Bucyk, and 6’2" Tyler Shipe. Newcomers to this season’s Varsity team will 6’3" Percy Davis, 6’2" Marcus Thornton and 6’4" Callon Dailey. Seniors Matt Goldsmith, Devin Bassett, Quinton Cole and Desmond Easterling will provide leadership for the team.

CALVERT HALL (Baltimore, MD)
The Calvert Hall Mustangs return to the Gonzaga DC classic led by third year Coach John Bauersfeld. Under his leadership, the Cardinals had a strong season in 2008-2009 and finished with an impressive record of 30-7. Last year they won the Benedictine Capital City Classic in Richmond, Virginia. Other highlights included a second place finish in the Baltimore Catholic League, second place in the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA), and their first invitation to return to the Alhambra Tournament since 1996. Coach Bauersfeld is encouraged to have eight players returning this season and is hoping to build on last year’s successes. Senior Jonathan Graham, a 6’8" power forward has already had an offer to attend Virginia Commonwealth University next year. Damion Lee, a 6’6" senior forward is considering offers at Towson University and Quinnipiac College. Also at forward is 6’5" senior Donya Jackson, who has a strong interest in playing for the U.S. Naval Academy next year. Another team leader is 5’10" Kyle Wise, who has been a four year starter at point guard.

CHANTILLY (Chantilly, VA)
The Chantilly High School Charges come to the Gonzaga DC Classic for the first time, following an especially strong season last year. Competing in the Concorde District in the Northern Region of Virginia, they play against some of the largest high schools in Northern Virginia. They were Concorde District Champions last season with a record of 23-2, marked by a 15 game winning streak in league play. They advanced as far as Virginia’s Northern Region quarter finals. Coach Jim Smith is encouraged that six of his top 7 players are returning this season. He began his career coaching a total of 7 years at the McLean High School, Sidwell Friends and St. John’s College High School before moving to Chantilly, where he has been building their program over the past 19 years. Leading the team this season will be 6’11" junior John Manning at center. He averaged 13 points and 7 blocks per game last season and was selected for the First Team for the All-Concorde District Team, First Team Northern Region, and received an Honorable Mention for the All-State team. One of the best players in Virginia, he is already being highly recruited. Junior Kethan Savage, a 6’1" guard averaged 10 points and 3 steals per game and made the All-District tournament team last season. The Chargers secret weapon may be junior Adam Fridy, a 6’2" guard who has shot 50% in the 3-point range for the last two years. He made Second Team- All District and was selected MVP for the championship tournament. Devin Ballam, a 5’10" junior guard led the team last year with 7 assists per game. Senior Matt Howerton, a 6’3" forward averaged 6 points and 4 rebounds per game. He has been recruited by Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Matt DeWitt, a 6’3" junior who plays at both guard and forward contributed 7 points and 4 rebounds per game last year.

IONA PREP (New Rochelle, NY)
The Iona Prep Gaels make their first appearance in the Gonzaga DC Classic. Coach Victor Quirolo returns for his12th season with the Gaels with a record of 192 wins and 114 losses. During his tenure, Iona Prep has won 4 League Championships, 3 City Championships and its first State Title. This year the Gaels return six players from the 2008-2009 team that won the New York State Catholic ‘A’ Championship, the New York City CHSAA ‘A’ Championship and the Bronx/Westchester CHSAA ‘A’ League Championship, finishing with a 27-2 record. Returning starters include 6’6" senior forward Brian Voelkel, 15.2 ppg, 12.4 rebs and 2.9 asst, 5’11’ senior point guard Jordan Bronner (13.6 ppg, 2.6 asst and 2.2 rebs), and 6’2" senior shooting guard Sandro Carissimo (14.4 ppg, 2.4 asst and 2.2 rebs). Voelkel, who has committed to the University of Vermont, will be playing for the first time at American University, where his dad set the NCAA record of 21 consecutive field goals. Also expected to play important roles are senior guard Jeff Mack and senior forwards Aaron Savage and Kenny Olimpio. Other players to watch are juniors Charles Ntumba, Ben Borsellino, Nick Rao, Chris Nash, James Gallery, Mason Adams and Baye Ceesay. Coach Victor Quirolo returns for his12th season with a record of 192 wins and 114 losses. During his tenure, Iona Prep has won 4 League Championships, 3 City Championships and its first State Title.

JESUIT COLLEGE PREP (Dallas, TX)
The Jesuit Dallas Rangers return to the Gonzaga DC Classic, coached by Chris Hill. Hill led the Rangers last season to a record of 25 – 8, with a 10 – 2 District record, finishing second in Dallas District 8 – 5A. The Rangers return Seniors Chris Udofia, a 6’4" forward, Josh Bauer, a 6’6" forward, James Leinbaugh, a 6’4" guard and 6’ guard Eli Daniels. Udofia has committed to play basketball next season for the University of Denver and was First Team All – District and the District Defensive Player of the Year last season. Bauer is the only two year Varsity letter winner on the roster. Two years ago he was District Newcomer of the Year and last season he was Second Team All – District. He is being recruited by a number of Low to Mid Division I schools. Leinbaugh was Second Team All – District last season and one of the top three point shooters in the area. Daniels shot %51 from behind the arc in a back up role but should be a major contributor this year after a strong summer. A number of underclassmen will move up to play major roles this year from the District Champion Junior Varsity Team including 6’0" junior guard Brian Wetzel, 6’2" guard Jeffery Schoettmer, 6’2" forward Sam Crume, and 6’4" guard Stephen Olson. The Rangers are ranked 25th in the State of Texas by the Texas hoops preseason poll.

MATER DEI (Santa Ana, CA)
An all-senior starting five travels out of California for the Mater Dei Monarch for their first appearance in the DC Classic. The Monarchs are coming off a 32-2, state championship season, and are hoping for a repeat performance this year despite losing two starters who now are playing at the University of North Carolina (twins David and Travis Wear). Head Coach Gary McKnight, who is beginning his 28th year at Mater Dei, says that he has a team of “five guards” that will emphasize speed and movement. Although, no starter is over 6’-5", three have already committed to play at the college level. At the point is Tom Stangl, 6’0", who will start for his first season. Last year he averaged five points and five assists off the bench. At off guard is Max Hooper, a 6’5" transfer, who averaged 17 ppg and 4 assists last year, and is an excellent 3-point shooter. Forward Tyler Lamb, 6’5", 14 ppg, has committed to UCLA. He has started for the past two years. At the other forward is Gary Franklin, 6’3", 12 ppg, who has committed to Cal Berkley. Rounding up the starting five is Keala King, 6’5", 16 ppg, a transfer student who has committed to play at Arizona State.

SIDWELL FRIENDS (Washington, DC)
The Sidwell Friends Quakers make their first appearance in the Gonzaga DC Classice coming off an up and down season last year. Last season the Quakers gained momentum coming down the stretch, finishing with a 13-12 record and nearly knocking off eventual champion Flint Hill in The Mid-Atlantic Atlantic conference tournament. The Mid-Atlantic Conference boasts many quality independent schools. Head coach Eric Singletary, a 1993 graduate and All-Met player at Sidwell, is a product of Rice University and played professionally in Germany and Portugal. Coach Singletary is extremely excited about the opportunity to coach this team, which returns seven players from last year’s team and includes some exciting new prospects. Among the returning players is sophomore guard Jamal Lewis 6’0", an all-league player who averaged 16 points, five assists, five rebounds and two steals per game as a freshman varsity starter for the Quakers in 2008-2009. Joining Lewis and providing both leadership and scoring punch are seniors forward Peter Suyderhoud 6’5", and forward Ian Steckler 6’4". Both should be instrumental in the Quakers’ success. The Quakers are also excited about the arrival of freshman guard Matt Hillman 6’0".

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