Ex-players return to coach at event
Chesapeake’s Johnson, Meade’s Harmon come full circle at classic
Coaching in the 33rd annual Anne Arundel County Senior All-Star Basketball Classic is going to bring back fond memories for Marcus Johnson and Catherine Harmon.
That’s because both played in the event when they were seniors at Annapolis and Arundel, respectively.
Johnson played in the 2000 edition and helped the South beat the North, 95-91, in a game that was actually low scoring by All-Star Classic standards. His Annapolis High teammate, Thomas Hawkins, was named South Most Valuable Player.
“I remember the excitement and the atmosphere and it being my last game as an Anne Arundel County high school player,” said Johnson, who now oversees the boys basketball program at Chesapeake High. “It’s definitely very cool to be coaching in this game. It’s jogging memories of when I played in it.”
Harmon was known as Catherine Gonzalez when she participated in the 2001 girls game, which was won by the South, 79-68. Gonzales was one of five Arundel players selected to the roster and teammate Jill Marano was named North MVP.
Arundel’s Lee Rogers served as North coach and was able to enjoy one last game with five seniors who led the program to the Class 4A state championship in 2000 and a berth in the state semifinals in 2001.
“What I remember was that we all had a lot of fun. Just the experience itself was the best part,” Harmon said. “It was the last time I got to play with my teammates before we all went our separate ways.”
Harmon now coaches Meade girls basketball and is proud to join a very short list of people who have both played and coached in the Anne Arundel County Senior All-Star Classic, the latest edition of which will be held Wednesday at Severna Park. The girls game gets underway at 5:30 p.m. with the boys game tipping at approx
imately 7:30.
Harmon and Johnson got to know each quite well as both played basketball at the College of Charleston.
“It’s incredibly full circle. For Marcus and I to come back and coach in Anne Arundel County where we got our start really means a lot, and now to have a chance to coach in this all-star game that we both played in is very special,” she said.
Prior to the North practice session on Sunday at the Boys and Girls Club facility in Annapolis, Harmon told this year’s players about her experience as a player more than two decades ago.
“I think it gives me and Marcus a different perspective. We know what it means to play in this game. It’s an honor for all the players selected and a night they should all really enjoy,” she said.
South boys coach Trey Quinn was also selected for the 2009 All-Star Classic as a senior at St. Mary’s. However, he suffered a broken hand during preseason lacrosse practice and was unable to participate.
Quinn, who is now the boys basketball coach at his alma mater, did attend the game and receive a commemorative T-shirt in recognition of being named a countywide all-star.
“This event has been around a long time and has a lot of history and tradition,” Quinn said. “It was disappointing that I wasn’t able to play in the game, but it’s cool to be able to coach in it.”
Quinn was impressed by the chemistry and camaraderie his South squad displayed during Sunday’s practice. Among the standouts were Jordan Brown of Broadneck, Noah Frayer of Arundel, Brian Griffin of Southern and the coaches vote for Player of the Year, South River big man James Crimaudo.
“I think we have a ton of talent. I like the way they worked together and shared the ball in practice. They really competed and played defense. Hopefully, they take that mentality onto the floor on Wednesday night,” Quinn said. “I told the guys to play as fast as they can, don’t over dribble and keep the ball moving. We want to get as many possessions as possible so everyone gets a chance to show what they can do.”
Brown played on the Amateur Athletic Union circuit with Griffin and Crimaudo as members of the Baltimore Basketball Club. He enjoyed reuniting with those two and getting to know some of the South players he has only competed against over the years.
“Everybody on this team is good and is going to want to showcase their skills, so it should be a lot of fun,” Brown said. “I think it will be exciting for the fans to see all the best players in the county out on the same court.”
All four 2024 Anne Arundel
County Senior All-Star Classic teams practiced for an hour and a half Sunday in the upstairs gymnasium of the Boys and Girls Club located at the Wiley H. Bates Center. It gave the participating players an opportunity to see first-hand the nonprofit organization that benefits from the event as all proceeds are donated to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County.
It was also a chance for the coaches to evaluate the players, install a basic offense and go over baseline and sideline out-of-bounds plays. Among the standouts at the North boys practice were Severn School’s Kingston Price, the MIAA B Conference Player of the Year.
“Kingston is a very high level player and can do a lot of things,” Johnson said. “I think we have a really good group of guys that are fairly familiar with each other. I am confident they’re going to play hard and bring a winning mentality.”
It is commonplace for a large contingent of college coaches to attend the Anne Arundel County Senior All-Star Classic to scout talent. Many of the participating players, including the aforementioned Price, remain uncommitted. Johnson told his troops this was a chance to get noticed and possibly earn an offer.
“All-Star games can be tough because everyone wants to be the man and do their thing. I tried to impress upon the players the importance of being unselfish and showing teamwork,” Johnsons said. “There are going to be college coaches there, so this is a chance for the players to show what they can do and maybe get an opportunity at the next level.”
Class 3A state champion Northeast has three players on the North squad in point guard Cam Albury, swingman Jadyss Fifer and center Shamar Johnson. They arrived at the all-star practice in the same car, just like they have done everything together throughout their careers.
“We’ve been together four years now and this all-star game is a great way to go out,” said Fifer, who likes the versatility of his team. “We’ve got a lot of 3-point shooters and we’ve also got guys who can play above the rim. Getting an opportunity to play in front of people from all over the county is exciting.”
South girls coach Juan McKinney played basketball at Broadneck and remembers going to the Anne Arundel County Senior All-Star Classic as a fan to see friends participate. He called it an honor to be chosen to coach in the game.
“This event has been around for so long and is such a great tradition. To be able to coach in this game and have four of my girls on the team is very exciting,” McKinney said.
McKinney has four of his Broadneck players on the South squad in Mackenzie Wharton, Samantha Miller,
Liberty Chenault-Randall and Ginger Kerdock. Other players that showed well at practice included Ava Wooster of Southern, Baily Walden of St. Mary’s and Amelia Skinner of Annapolis.
“The good thing is that I know all of these players. I know what they can and can’t do, which makes my job easy,” McKinney said. “We’ve got a lot of different types of players, which gives us a lot of options. We’re well-rounded inside and outside.”
Prior to practice, McKinney told the South players the mission on Wednesday night is two-fold: Have a good time and come away victorious.
“I want them to go out and have fun, but at crunch time let’s really compete to win the game,” he said. “We’re going to try to run and score a lot of points. We’re ready to score 85 to 90 points.”
ALL-STAR CLASSIC ROSTERS
South Boys
Raphael Clavery, Annapolis Noah Frayer, Arundel Ryan Alston, Arundel Jordan Brown, Broadneck Devin McGowan, Broadneck Noah Hannah, Key Aidan Evans, Indian Creek James Crimaudo, South River Brendan Abell, Severna Park Upton Young, Severna Park Riley Costello, St. Mary’s Brian Griffin, Southern COACH: Trey Quinn, St. Mary’s
North Boys
Xavier Johnson, Annapolis Area Christian
Mike Lonergan, Archbishop Spalding
Jaylin Sykes, Archbishop Spalding
Mitch Collier, Chesapeake Oluwagbotemi Ogungbile, Chesapeake Science Point Cam Winston, Crofton Greg Pittman, Glen Burnie Zamar Jones, Meade Cam Albury, Northeast Shamar Johnson, Northeast Jadyss Fifer, Northeast Jeremy Scanlon, North County
Kingston Price, Severn COACH: Marcus Johnson, Chesapeake
South Girls
Amelia Skinner, Annapolis Cedrayah Graves, Annapolis Mackenzie Wharton, Broadneck Samantha Miller, Broadneck Liberty Chenault-Randall, Broadneck
Ginger Kerdock, Broadneck Baily Walden, St. Mary’s Mia Novak, St. Mary’s Maggie Grove, South River Sidney Shaw, Southern Ava Wooster, Southern COACH: Juan McKinney, Broadneck
North Girls
Kasey Slade, Chesapeake Maggie Lawrence, Chesapeake
Ava Arruda, Chesapeake McKenzie Gilbert, Glen Burnie
Maya Matthews, Glen Burnie Evhan Smith, Meade Kennedy House, Meade Iyona Robinson, North County
Regan Chilton, Old Mill Ryn Feemster, Severna Park Gabby Rosati, Severna Park Maddy Sullivan, Severna Park COACH: Catherine Harmon, Meade