Published: March 18, 2009 11:54 pm      

Talent galore in ACIT

Top teams from Washington, Baltimore highlight field; 49th annual tournament tips off today at Frostburg State

MIKE BURKE

Times-News Staff Writer

FROSTBURG — Just as it’s been for the better part of a half-century, the field of the Alhambra Catholic Invitational Tournament is loaded.

It’s loaded with quality teams — three of the top five teams in Washington, and two of the top four teams in Baltimore — and those teams are loaded with quality players, whom ACIT fans will be seeing in person this weekend at Frostburg State University during the 49th ACIT, and then on television for many years to come. This week alone, 15 former ACIT players can be seen playing in the NCAA tournament, while eight more ACIT alumni will be taking part in the NIT. And, of course, if the NBA is your gig, eight current players in the league played here in the ACIT.

For many local basketball fans it all begins this weekend when some of the finest high school basketball teams and players land in Allegany County to provide three days of the best scholastic basketball found anywhere.

This weekend’s tournament will be no different of course, as the ACIT field is stocked with players who have already committed — in writing or verbally — to college basketball programs, and many more who are still in the process of being recruited.

Nineteen-time champion DeMatha (29-3), ranked No. 3 in the Washington area, has a roster filled with future college players, including 6-6 Naji Hibbert, who committed to play for Texas A&M before the season. He told the Washington Post last week his goal for the season was to win championships, starting with the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference title, the D.C. City title, and ACIT title, because, “Not a lot of DeMatha teams have won all three. We want to go out with a bang.”

Hibbert and this teammates have one more to go, with one of those Stags being 6-4 junior Jerian Grant, brother of Clemson’s Jerai Grant and son of former NBA star Harvey Grant. Jerian Grant is currently holding scholarship offers from a list that includes Virginia, Virginia Tech, Clemson, Providence, Massachusetts and George Mason, “amongst others,” DeMatha coach Mike Jones told the Post.

Defending ACIT champion Gonzaga (26-5), ranked No. 4 in Washington, is led by last year’s ACIT MVP Ian Hummer who has committed to Princeton. Junior Cedrick Lindsay has enjoyed a breakout season this year according to the Post, and has been in contact with recruiters, including from Temple.

Junior guard Tyler Thornton has made a verbal commitment to Duke. Thornton, who averages 14.5 points and five assists, is a tough defender and the court leader for the Eagles.

As for Bishop McNamara (26-5), ranked No. 5 in Washington, Lawrence Smith has committed to North Carolina A&T, Rashad Whack to George Mason, and Talib Zannon to Pittsburgh.

Bishop O’Connell (22-8), a three-time ACIT champion, returns as does 6-3 junior guard Kendall Marshall, who has committed to North Carolina. As ACIT fans know, Marshall looks to pass first, but he leads the Knights in scoring this season at 13.7 points per game.

Kevin Jones of O’Connell has committed to UMBC.

In Baltimore, former ACIT champion St. Frances Academy (31-3), coached by former ACIT MVP and Temple star Mark Karcher, returns to the ACIT as the MIA A and Baltimore Catholic League champions, and is ranked No. 2 in Baltimore.

Terrell Vinson, 6-7, 200-pound forward, is averaging 23 points, eight rebounds and three blocked shots and is a four-star player rated by Rivals.com as the No. 81 player in the country. According to the Baltimore Sun, Vinson is focused on four schools: Cincinnati, Charlotte, Maryland and Massachusetts.

Vinson’s teammate Wayne Sparrow has committed to Richmond.

Calvert Hall (28-6) has received an outstanding season from Jonathan Graham, the son of former University of Maryland great Ernie Graham.

Mike Burke is sports editor of the Cumberland Times-News.Contact Mike Burke at mburke@times-news.com.