Mount Saint Joseph High School (MIAA)

Apologies for the late recap but the performance from St. Frances Academy boys basketball is still worth highlighting after their 84–73 win over Mount St. Joseph on January 13. St. Frances set the tone early, dominating the first half on both ends of the floor. The Panthers played with pace, shared the ball well, and controlled the glass, building a comfortable lead before halftime. Offensively, Terence Jones III and Carter Fisk led the way with 27 points each, combining for a powerful scoring punch that consistently broke down the Gaels’ defense. Chance McCoy added 12 points, providing timely buckets and energy throughout the game. On the boards, Jaliel Spears finished with a team-high 8 rebounds, while Jones III (7 rebounds), McCoy (6 rebounds), and James Branch (5 rebounds) helped St. Frances control the paint. Fisk also contributed as a playmaker, leading the team with 5 assists. After halftime, Mount St. Joseph made adjustments and lifted their intensity, allowing them to close some of the gap in the second half. However, the Panthers’ dominant first-half performance proved to be the difference as St. Frances held on for the victory.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFULMhoTkag 🏀🏀 BATTLE OF THE MIAA A’s ON NEW CUT RD VARSITY edition 🆚 MSJ x Spalding 
📍Severn Maryland (Archbishop Spalding HS) ✍🏽ZayMillz of MFVAllSportsNetwork With both teams coming off crushing losses, Spalding and MSJ came in to this matchup looking to bounce back before Christmas. These teams had already played each other with the Cavaliers winning by two points back in early December. 1st Period - The game began with a very physical start, both teams struggling to get a bucket due to tough defense and block shots. But the Gaels led the period 8-4. 2nd Period - The scoring picked up when Spalding’s (#3) Moe Loregan and (#22) Nash Avery by a few And 1 plays, and dunks by Nash For MSJ, numbers 31, 5 and 1 stood out with some clean 3’s . But the Gaels still held their lead, 23-25, going in to halftime. 3rd Period - The period started with MSJ’s (#1) leading the charge with some tough layups, 3 pointers, and rebounds to increase the lead. Still scoring from Moe kept Spalding in the game. The end of the 3rd, MSJ still ahead 39-36. 4th Period - Gaels (#1) made plays again with (#12) hitting a three . MSJ used Spalding’s broken shot clock to their advantage (Note: One of the shot clocks was acting improperly so the school decided not to use a shot clock in the game) by draining the clock with ball movement and long extended plays. This caused the Cavaliers to have to foul. Spalding attempted a late comeback but it was unsuccessful as MSJ would get revenge from their first match to win 59-53. Game MVP MSJ’s (#1) Ace Valentine.

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Hailing from Sykesville, Maryland, Bryan Costabile’s lacrosse journey began in backyard battles with his brothers before erupting on the fields of Mount Saint Joseph High School. There, he tallied 149 goals and earned All-American honors, becoming one of the most dominant midfielders in Maryland history. At Notre Dame, Costabile set the program record for goals by a midfielder (42 in 2019) and finished with 99 career goals, ninth all-time for the Irish. Known for his blistering on-the-run shot and off-ball movement, he became a two-way threat and a team leader. Drafted second overall in the 2020 PLL College Draft by the Atlas, Costabile’s pro career has been marked by quiet consistency and explosive potential. In the 2025 PLL Championship, he delivered when it mattered most—scoring the final two goals in a dramatic 14–13 comeback win over Denver, sealing Atlas’ first league title. Costabile’s path is a blueprint for Maryland’s lacrosse elite: humble beginnings, relentless development, and clutch greatness. His journey from MSJ to national champion reminds us why Maryland remains the heart of the lacrosse world.

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Calvert Hall 28 Mt. St. Joseph 14

Maryland counties will watch former high school stars fulfill lifelong dreams in Brooklyn for the 79th NBA Draft. Split over June 25 and 26, the festivities will only add to Maryland’s strong history of impact NBA talent. In 1949, the Baltimore Bullets drafted forward Paul Gordon out of Mount St. Joseph, beginning a pipeline for 124 more Maryland high school players to follow. Two of those players, Carmelo Anthony and Adrian Dantley, reached the Hall of Fame. Three have been the first overall selection in their respective years. Thirteen have won an NBA championship, including two in 2023 with the Denver Nuggets. Future Hall of Famer Kevin Durant, 36, may be the best NBA player in Maryland high school history. Durant spent time at multiple Maryland high schools, initially playing for National Christian Academy for his first two years. As a senior at Montrose Christian School, Durant earned an All-American selection and won the MVP award for the All-American game. He took that momentum to the University of Texas for the 2007 season. Durant has numerous accolades, including an MVP award, two NBA Finals MVP awards, and 14 All-Star appearances. The 17-year veteran has the eighth-most points in league history and won two championships with the Golden State Warriors in 2017 and 2018. In this year’s draft, Derik Queen, 20, stands out as the next impact player to come from a Maryland high school. The center first played for St. Frances Academy in 2021 and immediately displayed his talent. The then-freshman helped the Panthers achieve an undefeated regular season and go on a playoff run that brought a championship appearance. Queen won the 2021 MaxPreps Player of the Year and transferred to Montverde Academy in Florida to finish his high school career. He returned home in 2024 to play as a Terrapin at the University of Maryland. In his lone college season, Queen won the Big Ten Freshman of the Year Award and brought Maryland back to the Sweet Sixteen for the first time since 2016. Queen has received varying projections across NBA draft coverage. ESPN projects the Chicago Bulls selecting him at 12th overall, while USA Today projects the New Orleans Pelicans taking him at 7th. The center is generally expected to go towards the middle of the first round, ranging from the 7th to the 15th picks. The Bulls stand out as the likeliest due to their need at the position. Their starting center, Nikola Vučević, is in the final year of his contract with no clear replacement lined up. Queen could have a valuable opportunity to develop this upcoming season under the veteran’s tutelage before taking over in 2026. Queen’s selection will mark consecutive seasons of St. Frances producing an NBA first-round pick. The Portland Trail Blazers selected Bub Carrington 14th overall last year from the University of Pittsburgh. The rookie was one of 11 players to appear in all 82 of their team’s games. He projects to be a long-term member of the Trail Blazers’ core. A Maryland high product has not been taken in the top 10 draft pick since 202, when Obi Toppin (Mt. Zion Prep ‘18) and Jalen Smith (Mount St. Joseph ‘18) were selected eighth and tenth overall, respectively. Toppin set career highs in points per game and defensive rebounds this season as a key piece for the Indiana Pacers, who are set to face the Oklahoma City Thunder for game seven of the NBA Finals. Queen aims to return Maryland to the forefront of basketball development in another historic moment for state high school basketball programs.

Dont’e Thornton Jr. has been turning heads since his high school days, where he earned All-Metro, All-State, and All-Conference honors for Mount Saint Joseph twice. A consensus four-star national recruit and top-100 player, Thornton was one of the most coveted wide receivers in the country, drawing interest from over 20 Power 5 programs before committing to Oregon in 2021. At Oregon, Thornton saw the field early, playing in all 14 games as a freshman and earning three starts as a sophomore. Over two seasons with the Ducks, he tallied 26 receptions and three touchdowns before transferring to Tennessee in search of more opportunities. In his senior year at Tennessee, Thornton broke out with another 26 catches, but this time he led the nation with a staggering 25.4 yards per reception—cementing his status as one of college football’s premier deep threats. At 6’5”, Thornton offers elite size and speed, making him a dangerous vertical weapon. With continued development in route running and more consistency, he has the potential to evolve into a true No. 1 receiver at the next level. Any team that drafts him will be getting an immediate contributor with sky-high upside.

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Photo courtesy of Spalding Boys' Volleyball Instagram Archbishop Spalding Varsity Volleyball is undefeated in the lead of MIAA’s A Conference, with last year’s champions trailing behind in second place with a 9-1 record, the Mount St. Joseph Gaels. The Gaels’ only loss this season was to the Cavaliers in August. The two will face off again this Friday at Spalding, giving the Cavaliers the home-field advantage. On the other end of the conference, the Friends School of Baltimore has an an unfortunate season with 9 losses and no wins. They will play Gilman at home tomorrow. This season, Friends has only scored a total of 2 points throughout their nine games, which they hope to change at tomorrow’s game.

Baltimore native Jalen Smith, known for his formidable presence on the basketball court, is set to embark on the next chapter of his NBA career with the Chicago Bulls. The 6-foot-10 power forward has captured attention throughout his journey from high school stardom to becoming a rising force in the league. Smith's basketball prowess became evident early on during his time at Mount Saint Joseph High School in Baltimore, Maryland. As Maryland’s two-time Gatorade Player of the Year, (2017, 2018) he was instrumental in securing championships for the Baltimore Catholic League and MIAA A Conference in 2017. Smith showcased his dominance with impressive averages of 22.2 points, 12 rebounds, and 4 blocks per game as a senior. Choosing to stay close to home, Smith committed to the University of Maryland as a five-star recruit. His impact earned him accolades such as First Team All-Big Ten and Defensive Team honors during his sophomore year. Selected 10th overall in the 2020 NBA Draft by the Phoenix Suns, Smith began his professional career aiming to complement center Deandre Ayton. However, limited opportunities led to a trade to the Indiana Pacers after two seasons, where Smith's game flourished with increased playing time. He quickly became known for his effective three-point shooting, rebounding prowess, and infectious energy on the court. Now, Smith is poised to bring his talents to the Windy City with the Chicago Bulls, signing a promising three-year, $27 million deal. As Smith prepares for this new chapter in Chicago, he brings with him not only a wealth of basketball experience but also energy and a determination to prove himself. Congratulations to Jalen as he continues to make progress in his NBA career!