A “CLASSIC” RETURN

by Derek Toney

The Charm City Classic is back. After an nine-year absence, one of the top boys’ basketball high school events of the 1990s, has been reborn for the 21st century. Eight teams, including five MIAA programs, will converge at Loyola College’s Reitz Arena Saturday afternoon.

Defending MIAA A Conference and Baltimore Catholic League champ Towson Catholic will tip off its season against perennial national power Rice (N.Y.) in the nightcap at 8 p.m. Rice (ranked 11th by USA Today), which was runner-up for the New York Class AA state championship last season, has four starters back including Connecticut-bound guard Kemba Walker. After graduating standouts Donte Green (Syracuse) and Malcolm Delaney (Virginia Tech), Towson Catholic will be turning to senior guard Larry Bastfield, who has signed with Toledo.

The opening game will have a matchup of old B Conference foes with John Carroll taking on St. Mary’s. The Patriots, ranked No. 21 in ESPN’s Elite 25 national poll, has moved to the A Conference with one of the nation’s top juniors in 6 foot, seven inch forward Isaiah Philmore. John Carroll was originally slated to play New Jersey powerhouse St. Benedict’s, but coach Tony Martin said St. Mary’s is just as dangerous.

“We’re excited about the opportunity,” said John Carroll coach Tony Martin. “St. Mary’s is a team that’s going to test us because they run the Princeton offense. They can hit threes and present a lot of matchup issues.”

The Saints won the B Conference crown last season, and return arguably one of the area’s best unknown guards in senior Josh Morgan-Green. The 5-11 Green, who passed the 1,000-point career mark earlier this week, averaged 20.8 points a game as a junior last season.

John Bauersfeld makes his coaching debut with Calvert Hall College which plays perennial Washington Catholic Athletic Conference stronghold Gonzaga (D.C.) in the second contest. The Cardinals boast two of the area’s promising sophomores in 6-7 Jon Graham (son of former Maryland star Ernie) and 5-8 guard Kyle Wise. Harvard commit Max Kenyi leads Gonzaga, which went undefeated during the summer and won two of the toughest leagues in the Washington area, the Rock and Kenner.

St. Frances will open its campaign against St. John’s Neumann-Maria Goretti from Philadelphia. Neumann-Goretti reached the finals of the Alhambra Catholic Invitational Tournament last season and return 6-4 wing
Jamal Wilson, who is headed to Rhode Island. Maryland signee Sean Mosley will lead the Panthers.

“In my opinion, he’s the best Maryland recruit out of Baltimore since Keith Booth,” said tournament founder Bill Spotts, who witnessed hundreds of college prospects during the Charm City’s first run including current NBA stars Tracy McGrady (Houston Rockets), Stephon Marbury (New York Knicks) and Rasheed Wallace (Detroit Pistons). “He’s a terrific player who could be playing right now for Maryland.”

A percentage of the proceeds will go to G.B. Charities, a non-profit organization that provides tuition assistance to low-income families at accredited faith-based schools. Tickets for Saturday’s showcase are $12 for adults, $8 for students with identification at Reitz Arena or can be purchased online at TicketMaster.com. For additional information go to HoopGroup.com.

Charm City Classic
When: Saturday, Dec. 1
Where: Reitz Arena, Loyola College
Tickets: $12 for adults; $8 for students
Schedule: St. Mary’s vs. John Carroll, 3 p.m.; Gonzaga (D.C.) vs. Calvert Hall, 4:40 p.m.; St. Neumann-Goretti (Pa.) vs. St. Frances, 6:20 p.m.; Rice (N.Y.) vs. Towson Catholic, 8 p.m.