The Baltimore Catholic League (otherwise known as the The BCL, or simply BCL) is a competitive basketball league based in Baltimore, Maryland. Participants are private, parochial high schools in the Baltimore region; the league includes schools from towns as distant as Hagerstown orSevern.
Participating Schools
- Head coach: Pat Clatchey
- Athletic director: Paul Triplett
- Towson Catholic High School[1]
- Head coach: Josh Pratt
- Athletic director: Jeff Palumbo
- St. Frances Academy[2]
- Head coach: William Wells
- Athletic director: Jerome Shelton
- Head coach: Mark Amatucci
- Athletic director: Lou Eckerl
- Head coach: Josh Davalli
- Athletic director: Michael Keeney
- St. Maria Goretti High School[3]
- Head coach: Cokey Robertson
- Athletic director: Carol Brashears
- The Cardinal Gibbons School[4]
- Head coach: Jeff Cheevers
- Athletic director: Jeff Cheevers
- Archbishop Spalding High School[5]
- Head coach: Dale Chambers
- Athletic director: Lee Dove
Scheduling
The league is in cooperation with the MIAA (Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association). 7 of the 8 teams participate in the MIAA A Conference, which results in each team playing twice against each other (in "home" and "away" matches). St. Maria Goretti School is the only member of the BCL that does not participate in the MIAA. Two schools participate in the MIAA 'A' conference, but do not participate in the BCL: McDonogh School and St. John's Prospect Hall.
After the conclusion of the season, the BCL sponsors a tournament held at Loyola College's Reitz Arena. The event usually occurs after the MIAA Conference Championship. All 8 teams of the league participate in this single-elimination tournament (4 quarterfinal matchups, 2 semi-final games, and 1 final game).
Current BCL Stars
CLASS OF 2007
- F Donte Green, Towson Catholic
G Malcolm Delaney, Towson Catholic
- F/C Dino Gregory, Mt. St. Joseph
- C Braxton Dupree, Calvert Hall
G/F Lloyd McCleave, Calvert Hall
G/F Alex Franz, Cardinal Gibbons
G/F Omari Mobley, Loyola Blakefield
G/F Mike Horne, Loyola Blakefield
G Desmond Thomas, St. Frances
F Aric Brooks, St. Frances
Class of 2008
F/G Sean Mosley, St. Frances
C/F Andrew Fitzgerald, St. Frances
G James Davenport, Loyola Blakefield
G Sal Schittino, Loyola Blakefield
G Larry Bastfield, Towson Catholic
F Brandon Greene, Towson Catholic
G LuVincent Breckenridge, Towson Catholic
G Terrell Bruce, Towson Catholic
C Henry Sims, Mt. St. Joseph
G Justin McCoy, Mt. St. Joseph
G/F Chris Olsen, Mt. St. Joseph
G Julian Watson, Spalding
G/F Kevon Moore, Spalding
G Pat Dougherty, Calvert Hall
G Jamar Briscoe, Cardinal Gibbons
CLASS OF 2009
G/F LeShon Edwards, Towson Catholic
F/G Naji Hibbert, St. Frances
G Quinton Goodwin, Mt. St. Joseph
F Gerald Hill, Mt. St. Joseph
G Matt Miller, Mt. St. Joseph
F Torè Turner, Mt. St. Joseph
G Matt Rum, Loyola Blakefield
F Brad Bald, Spalding
G Shawn Holmes, Calvert Hall
- -indicates player has verbally committed to a college. Donte will play basketball for Jim Boeheim at Syracuse University, while Dino and Braxton will compete in the [ACC] under Gary Williams at University of Maryland.
Notable BCL Alumni
Mount Saint Joseph Gaels:
Will Thomas '04 -NCAA George Mason Patriots
Louis Birdsong '06 -NCAA George Mason Patriots
Brian Johnson '05 -NCAA Delaware Blue Hens via Winchendon School
Kevin Swecker '06 -NCAA Longwood Lancers
Chase Adams '06 -NCAA Centenary College Gents
Dejuan Goodwin '06 -NCAA Marist Red Foxes
Towson Catholic Owls:
Carmelo Anthony '02 -NBA Denver Nuggets, NCAA Syracuse Orange via Oak Hill Academy
Darnell Hopkins '02 -NCAA Murray State Racers
Keith Jenifer '00 -NCAA Virginia Cavaliers, Murray State Racers via Hargrave Military Academy
Calvert Hall Cardinals:
Juan Dixon '98 -NBA Portland Trailblazers & Washington Wizards, NCAA Maryland Terrapins
Jack McClinton '02 -NCAA Siena Saints, Miami Hurricanes via South Kent Prep
Rick Harris '05 -NCAA UMass Minutemen via Winchendon School
Russell Frederick '06 -NCAA DII Philadelphia Rams
Calvin Wise '05 -NCAA DIII St. Mary's Seahawks
Maurice Martin '03 -NCAA DII Philadelphia Rams
Spalding Cavaliers:
Rudy Gay '04 -NBA Memphis Grizzlies, NCAA UConn Huskies
Will Bowers '03 -NCAA Maryland Terrapins
Derek Young '06 -NCAA Navy Midshipmen
Gibbons Crusaders:
Steve "Wojo" Wojciechowski '94 -NCAA Duke Blue Devils
Leon Williams '04 -NCAA Ohio Bobcats
Kenny Hasbrouck '03 -NCAA Siena Saints via Maine Central Prep
St. Frances Panthers:
Mark Karcher '97 -NCAA Temple Owls
Darnell Harris '03 -NCAA LaSalle Explorers
Loyola Dons:
Chris Clunie '01 -NCAA Davidson Wildcats
Essien Ford '03 -NCAA DIII Widener Aggies
Pat O'Connell '06 -NCAA DIII Johns Hopkins Blue Jays
Goretti Gaels
Gene Johnson '06 -NCAA Morgan State Bears
Extra Information
There has been talk that current MIAA members St. John's Catholic Prep (formerly St. John's at Prospect Hall Literary Institution) of Frederick, Maryland, a team which participates in the MIAA 'A' Conference, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel High School of Essex, Maryland, The John Carroll School of Bel Air, Maryland, and Archbishop Curley High School of Baltimore, Maryland, all members of the 'B' conference have been in discussion with competing in the BCL for the 2007-2008 season. Though there is no confirmation. However, it has been confirmed that Mt. Carmel, and John Carroll will be moved up to the MIAA 'A' conference in time for the 2007-2008 season. The current BCL champion is: Mt. St. Joseph High School, a team led by its fantastic seniors, and outstanding head coach Pat Clatchey.
During the BCL Tournament, players from the BCL are honored as they can be placed on 1st-team, 2nd-team, 3rd-team, and honorable mention for the league's "All Stars."