Calvert Hall's Brendan Johnson named BCL Player of the Year
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – Calvert Hall senior Brendan Johnson, who is averaging 26.1 points, 7.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 2.0 steals per game while shooting 48 percent from the floor and 36 percent from 3-point range, is the Baltimore Catholic League’s Jerry Savage Player of the Year Award winner for the 2023-24 season.
St. Maria Goretti coach Sidney McCray, who led the Gaels to a fifth-place finish in the BCL with a 7-7 league record and a 15-15 overall record (through Feb. 16) in Goretti’s final season, repeated as the league’s O. Ray Mullis Coach of the Year recipient.
2024 BALTIMORE CATHOLIC LEAGUE TOURNAMENT BRACKET
Goretti players also earned two other BCL Superlative Awards as senior Caleb Embeya repeated as the BCL’s Mark Amatucci Defensive Player of the Year Award winner, and senior Jarvis Wright was tabbed as the league’s Cokey Robertson Most Improved Player of the Year Award recipient.
Johnson, a second-team All-BCL choice last season, is the sixth Savage Player of the Year winner from Calvert Hall – the first for the Cardinals since Ricky Harris was Co-Player of the Year in 2004-05 and the first Calvert Hall solo Player of the Year since Reggie Bryant in 1998-99.
Calvert Hall senior Brendan Johnson has been named the 2023-24 Baltimore Catholic League Jerry Savage Player of the Year.
McCray was named the Mullis Coach of the Year for the second time in his six seasons at St. Maria Goretti. McCray held a small roster of players together after the announcement that Goretti will close at the end of this academic year, and the Gaels responded with seven BCL victories – three in overtime – and Goretti and top-seeded Mount St. Joseph were the only team to beat both No. 2 seed St. Frances and No. 3 seed Mount Carmel this season. The Gaels are the No. 5 seed in the upcoming Baltimore Catholic League Tournament.
Embeya is averaging 18.0 points, 12.4 rebounds, 1.8 blocks and 1.2 steals per game while shooting 60 percent from the floor for St. Maria Goretti to repeat as the Amatucci Defensive Player of the Year winner.
Wright is averaging 20.0 points, 7.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.6 steals per game while shooting 50 percent from the floor, 36 percent from 3-point range and 75 percent from the foul line for St. Maria Goretti. He is the third Gaels player to earn the Robertson Most Improved Player of the Year Award and the second in as many seasons, joining Tyrus Fleetwood (2012-13) and Najeh Allen (2022-23).
The 2023-24 All-BCL first team includes Archbishop Spalding junior Malik Washington, Embeya, Mount St. Joseph senior Tyonne Farrell, Mount St. Joseph senior Jordan Brathwaite, Mount Carmel senior Andrew Dixon and Loyola junior Mason Ellison.
The All-BCL second team consists of Wright, St. Frances sophomore Jasiah Cannady, St. Frances senior Josiah Legree, John Carroll sophomore Aidan Able and Loyola senior J’Lin Brown.
Five other players received honorable mention recognition: Donovan Flamer (St. Frances), Junior Mancho (Mount Carmel), Tyrin Bizzelle (Calvert Hall), Tristen Wilson (Mount Carmel) and Theartis Battle (John Carroll).
The BCL also announced the winners of the Dave Kropfelder Never, Never Quit Awards for each school, as selected by their coach. The honorees for 2023-24 are: Jaylin Sykes (Archbishop Spalding), Dean Mimaros (Calvert Hall), Justin Spencer (John Carroll), Deji Battle-Olley, (Loyola), Rodney Scott(Mount Carmel), AJ Norman (Mount St. Joseph), Gary Pittman (St. Frances) and Keyan Proctor (St. Maria Goretti).
The 53rd Baltimore Catholic League Tournament, presented by Brooks Financial Group is set for March 1-3 at the Decker Sports and Recreation Center Arena on the campus of Goucher College. In the first round Friday, March 1, No. 7 seed John Carroll plays No. 2 seed St. Frances at 3 pm, No. 6 seed Loyola takes on No. 3 seed Mount Carmel at 4:45 pm, No. 8 seed Calvert Hall matches up against No. 1 seed and 2023-24 BCL regular season champion Mount St. Joseph at 6:30 pm and No. 5 seed St. Maria Goretti meets No. 4 seed Archbishop Spalding at 8:15 pm. The semifinal round is Saturday, March 2 with the 5/4 winner playing the 8/1 winner at 6 pm and the 6/3 winner taking on the 7/2 winner at 8 pm. Championship Sunday, March 3 has the junior varsity championship at 1 pm, and the 53rd varsity championship game at 3 pm. Tickets for each day of the 2024 BCL Tournament are on sale now at bclbasketball.com.
-- Report courtesy of Chris Pika of BCLBasketball.com
