All-Metro boys basketball 2023-24: Mount Saint Joseph’s Jordan Brathwaite named Player of the Year

Here are The Baltimore Sun’s All-Metro boys basketball teams for the 2023-24 season.

Player of the Year

Jordan Brathwaite, Mount Saint Joseph, senior, guard

The Good Counsel transfer, a 6-foot-4 combo guard, proved the ideal fit in helping No. 1 Mount Saint Joseph (36-5) maintain its lofty status as the area’s top-ranked team.

Brathwaite’s tools and consistent play led the Gaels to the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference title and the Baltimore Catholic League regular-season crown. The Yale commit averaged 18 points, six rebounds and four assists per game, highlighted by a 19-point, five-rebound effort in the Gaels’ 57-52 win over Archbishop Spalding in the MIAA A Conference championship game.

“It’s a great award and I love to be recognized, but I wouldn’t be here without my teammates. Making the extra pass during games, picking me up when I’m down — it’s a family and this award is for all of us, even though it’s going to me,” Brathwaite said. “It’s a lot of hard work that goes into it and I’m just blessed and happy.”

With a top-notch class that included two-time All-Metro Player of the Year Amani Hansberry lost to graduation, the Gaels got quality play and leadership from Brathwaite to help fill the void.

“Just a seamless transition for him and what he brought to the table was exactly what we needed as a team,” Mount Saint Joseph coach Pat Clatchey said. “Basically, he is a complete, versatile, athletic skilled player that really raised the level of our play.”

Coach of the Year

Roger O’Dea, Northeast-AA

Going into the 2021-22 season, O’Dea made a calculated decision to give a promising group of sophomores ample playing time to grow together. The payoff came this season.

With a deep, experienced and hungry senior-laden team, the No. 7 Eagles (22-5) claimed the program’s first state championship, rallying from a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit for a 69-66 win over St. Charles in the Class 3A title game. Led by the backcourt of Cam Albury and Ryan Stacy and forward Shamar Johnson — all seniors — the Eagles checked off all the boxes to make program history.

“In the beginning of the season, I just kind of knew it would be our year. We had the guards, shooters, bigs, depth and defense,” O’Dea said.

Early validation came after a 56-55 loss to Severna Park at the buzzer. The Eagles visited then-unbeaten Arundel the next day and secured a commanding 79-68 win.

“To see them bounce back after a tough loss like that the very next day against one of the top teams, I think that was our thriving point and from then on, we just kept on going,” O’Dea said.

Northeast-AA closed the season on a 12-game winning streak, showing poise in its last three playoff wins, all decided by seven points or fewer. The Eagles are the fifth Anne Arundel County school to win a state title, with Meade (2015) the only other team to win a crown in the 2000s. A 1995 graduate of the school who took over the program in 2011, O’Dea has a 147-153 record.

First team

Cam Albury, Northeast-AA, senior, guard

The program’s all-time leading scorer (1,190 points in three years) averaged 18 points, five rebounds and three assists per game this season to lead the No. 7 Eagles (22-5) to their first Class 3A crown. He had a game-high 25 points in their 69-66 title win over St. Charles.

Tjay Beckles, Overlea, senior, guard

In closing a four-year career with 1,770 points, Beckles (22 points, 5.3 assists and 2.6 rebounds per game this season) led the Falcons (18-6) to their first Baltimore County championship in 32 years with a 25-point effort in their 77-69 win over Parkville.

Darnell Dantzler Jr., Edmondson, junior, guard

Consistently steady and often dazzling, the repeat first-team All-Metro selection set a confident tone in leading the No. 4 Red Storm (26-2) to the Baltimore City title and a second straight Class 1A state crown, averaging 20.1 points, nine assists and three steals per game.

Chase Foster, Edmondson, sophomore, center

At 6 feet 10, the area’s most dominant big man brought a sensational inside-outside game that produced 23 points, 11 rebounds and 2.5 blocked shots per game. He had a 13-point, 18-rebound performance to help the Red Storm get past Cambridge-South Dorchester for a second straight Class 1A state title.

Brendan Johnson, Calvert Hall, senior, guard

The versatile guard became the first Calvert Hall player since the 2004-05 season to be named the Baltimore Catholic League Player of the Year, averaging 26 points, eight rebounds and three assists in his third varsity season with the Cardinals.

Josiah LeGree, St. Frances, senior, guard

A Parkville transfer who led the Knights to their first Class 4A state crown as a junior, LeGree was named the BCL Tournament Most Valuable Player after leading the No. 2 Panthers (26-12) to the league championship. He averaged 16 points, five rebounds, four assists, two steals per game.

Kingston Price, Severn, senior, guard

The do-everything guard, who closed his career with 1,276 points in three years, brought leadership and solid numbers across the board. He averaged 17.5 points, four rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.6 steals per game while leading the No. 6 Admirals (24-6) to the program’s first MIAA B Conference title.

Dylan Sander, C. Milton Wright, junior, forward

Sander dominated the post and much more for the Mustangs (19-4), averaging 19.2 points and 13.5 rebounds — including 17 double-doubles — while adding 3.8 blocked shots, 3.1 assists and 2.8 steals for the Harford County champions and Class 2A semifinalists.

Jayden Saunders, Long Reach, senior, guard

Saunders was named Howard County’s Player of the Year as the first-year starter led the No. 9 Lightning (23-3) to the Class 3A South Region II title and a trip to the state semifinals. He averaged 21.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.4 steals on the season.

Malik Washington, Archbishop Spalding, junior, forward

An All-Metro second-team pick last year, Washington made the jump to the first team with consistent inside-outside play, averaging 18 points and 9.5 rebounds with 13 double-doubles in leading the No. 3 Cavaliers (23-10) to the final of the MIAA A Conference and BCL tournaments.

Second team

Sincere Barfield, Patterson, senior, guard

RJ Barnes Jr., Long Reach, senior, forward

James Crimaudo, South River, senior, guard

Patrick Curtin, Glenelg Country, senior, guard

Andrew Dixon, Mount Carmel, senior, guard

Mason Ellison, Loyola Blakefield, junior, guard

Tyonne Farrell, Mount St. Joseph, senior, forward

Shamar Johnson, Northeast-AA, senior, forward

Dorrian Sands, Carver Vo-Tech, senior, guard

Braden Sauritch, River Hill, senior, guard