MoCo Hoops released its preseason top 10 for MCPS boys varsity basketball Monday morning, rolling the rankings out on Instagram one team sheet at a time before capping the countdown with the full list.
The rankings come from MoCo Hoops & Contributors, a group from around the county that compiles them together. Most of the player numbers cited below come from this summer’s Capitol Hoops Summer League (CHSL), where a lot of these teams tipped off against each other in June and July.
No surprise at the top: the defending 4A state champion Blake Bengals open at No. 1 even after graduating five players who went on to college basketball. Whitman, Magruder and Kennedy, the teams that chased them last winter, fill out the next three spots.
Here is the full top 10, with each team sheet and what MoCo Hoops highlighted about every squad.
No. 1 Blake Bengals
The defending 4A state champions and consecutive MoCo champions graduated five high-level college basketball players, and they still open at No. 1. Returners Bilal Swangin, a CHSL All-Star and second-team All-CHSL selection, and Ben Gottfried are expected to lead the way. Transfers Nasir Wilson and Quaran Smith join the mix, along with incoming freshman sharpshooter Wale Oladotun (12.3 points, 2.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game, per MoCo Hoops) as the Bengals set up their state title defense.
No. 2 Whitman Vikings
The 4A state runner-up returns one of the county’s premier players in Max Williams, a first-team All-County and second-team All-CHSL pick. Senior Grady Miller and sophomore Rowan O’Brien had strong summers and will be asked to replace the scoring that graduated. Senior Daouda Sow led the way on the glass, and junior Maxx Walton, one of the most athletic players in the county, looks ready for a bigger role.
No. 3 Magruder Colonels
The 3A state runner-up returns largely intact. Senior Zeke Dabbondanza, a second-team All-County, first-team all-defense and third-team All-CHSL pick, led the Colonels this summer with 16 points, 9 rebounds and 2.8 steals per game. He’ll be flanked by juniors Alan Burt (9.8 points, 2.8 rebounds), Nate Wilson (9.9 points, 4.5 rebounds) and Steve Magnon (7.3 points, 6.0 rebounds), plus sophomore Sol Stephen (9.4 points, 3.9 rebounds).
No. 4 Kennedy Cavaliers
Last year’s MCPS South Division champions have two college players to replace, but they return senior Gabe Colston, the reigning MoCo Player of the Year per MoCo Hoops and this summer’s CHSL MVP after averaging 28 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists. Junior Maxwell Joshua and senior Devon Douai both had strong summers and should make an impact on both ends.
No. 5 Walter Johnson Wildcats
The Wildcats are powered by the returning duo of junior Carter Brooks and sophomore Jeremiah Williams. Williams averaged 26 points per game this summer and was named first-team All-CHSL, while Brooks put up 17.5 a game and earned All-CHSL honorable mention. Seniors Aidan Weiss and Connor Luecking give WJ leadership and a veteran presence around them.
No. 6 Richard Montgomery Rockets
RM’s all-time leading scorer is gone, but the Rockets have three strong seniors ready to carry the load in Joseph Davis Jr., Charlie Orcev and Jayceon Smith. Davis and Smith were both named to the All-CHSL honorable mention team this summer. Senior Israel Tshipamba will also be in the mix after averaging 8.3 points and 5.3 rebounds in CHSL play.
No. 7 Seneca Valley Screaming Eagles
The defending 4A West Region I champions, who also won the CHSL NIT tournament this summer, lost their top two scorers from a year ago. Three returning seniors will guide them: Malik Simmons Jr. (13.4 points, 7.4 rebounds this summer), Tylei Young (13.2 points, 3.7 rebounds and an All-CHSL honorable mention) and Xzavier Mabone (8.0 points, 5.3 rebounds).
No. 8 Blair Blazers
Senior Paul Ransom returns to lead a gritty, tough Blazers squad. MoCo Hoops calls the three-level scorer one of the top guards in the county this year. Athletic, skilled senior big men Joel Turkson and Koa Mussman will make Blair a hard matchup in the paint for everyone on the schedule.
No. 9 Northwest Jaguars
The Jaguars lost three rotation players and starters from last year’s team, but what comes back is young and varsity-experienced. Junior Connor Kuk led the Northwest offense this summer at 12.1 points and 3.3 rebounds per game, earning All-CHSL honorable mention. Senior Junior Mbonimpa, juniors Trey Goodlow III, Landen Veney and Aaron Benjamin, and sophomores Aqil Rahman and Jaden Moore are all expected to contribute on both ends after strong summers.
No. 10 Paint Branch Panthers
Paint Branch comes into the season without its three top scorers, but the backcourt is in experienced hands with seniors Elijah Miles and Mahki Martin expected to lead the Panthers on both ends of the floor. Senior high-flyer Ezana Daniels is also expected to take a big step forward in his final year.
Just outside the top 10
MoCo Hoops closed the graphic with four teams under its “O.L.I.” banner, just outside the rankings: the Damascus Hornets, Sherwood Warriors, Wootton Patriots and Springbrook Blue Devils.
Preseason lists are written to be argued with, and this one will get its answers soon enough. The county tips off this winter, and Capital Sideline will be following MCPS basketball all season.
Rankings, team sheets and graphics courtesy of MoCo Hoops & Contributors.
Parts of this article may have been written using AI. Contact us with any issues or corrections.
