Baltimore Catholic school graduates making headlines in pro, Olympic sports

Graduates of Baltimore-area Catholic schools are at the top of their games when it comes to grabbing national attention in the professional ranks and on the pre-Olympic stage this summer.

Here’s a look at a few who have been in the national headlines recently:

Carlton “Bub” Carrington

The 6-foot-4 point guard became the first St. Frances Academy player in nearly a quarter century drafted by an NBA team. The Washington Wizards selected Carrington in the first round of the professional basketball league’s draft June 26.

The Wizards chose Carrington, who played his final two high school seasons at St. Frances, with the 14th pick in the draft. Carrington, considered a late developer, has grown more than eight inches since starring in the Baltimore Catholic League.

In just one season with Pittsburgh, he averaged 13.8 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

“I think he’ll do very well in the NBA,” said St. Frances athletics director and basketball coach Nick Myles. “He has a great skill set and he’s in a great spot playing close to home. He should have a chance to contribute right away.”

Carrington’s entry into the NBA comes on the heels of the tiny East Baltimore school having two players drafted by NFL teams – Michigan running back Blake Corum (Los Angeles Chargers) and Merrimack defensive back Darion McKenzie (Pittsburgh Steelers). In addition, Eyabi Anoma (Kansas City Chiefs), Chris Brawell (Tampa Bay Buccaneers), Shane Lee (Chargers), Darrian Dalcourt (Baltimore Ravens) and Jordan Toles (Ravens) all will debut on NFL rosters during training camp this summer.

“We are proud of all our student athletes from St. Frances,” Myles said. “It shows what you can do with hard work and dedication. We like to believe that we have prepared them well.”

Angel Reese

The St. Frances Academy graduate, who helped Louisiana State University to a national title and back-to-back women’s Final Fours, continues to turn heads on and off the court.

Selected with the No. 7 pick by the Chicago Sky in the WNBA draft, she has become one of the biggest stars in professional sports.

She recently set a WNBA record for consecutive double-doubles (double figures in scoring and rebounding). She posted 10 points and 16 rebounds for the Sky for her record-setting 10th-straight double-double June 30.

Reese, who was named BET’s Sportswoman of the Year July 1, follows in the footsteps of former WNBA star and Olympic gold medalist Angel McCoughtry. The former St. Frances star played 13 seasons in the league and was a five-time all-star. She recently debuted as host of “Ballin’ in Baltimore” on WBAL-TV’s Very Local.

Cam Spencer

Spencer, a Boys’ Latin graduate and Davidsonville resident, was drafted by the Memphis Grizzlies in the second round of the NBA draft with the No. 53 pick. The shooting guard, who played his first three collegiate seasons at Loyola University Maryland, recently led the University of Connecticut to its second straight NCAA championship.

With the Grizzlies, Spencer will reunite with his former Loyola teammate Santi Aldama, who is in his third year with the NBA franchise. Spencer also could square off against his brother, Pat, who finished last season on the Golden State Warriors’ roster. Pat was the top lacrosse player in the nation at Loyola before resuming his basketball career.

Aldama, a native of Spain who played two seasons with the Greyhounds, averaged 10.7 points and 5.8 rebounds in his second season in the NBA. 

Cam Spencer averaged 14.2 points per game in three seasons at Loyola before transferring to Rutgers. After averaging 13.2 points a game for the Scarlet Knights, he closed his NCAA career by averaging 14.3 points a game for the national champs.

Jalen Smith

Reports out of Chicago indicate that the former Mount St. Joseph and University of Maryland star is prepared to sign a free agent deal with the NBA’s Chicago Bulls that could pay him $27 million over three years.

The 24-year-old forward averaged 9.9 points and 5.5 rebounds a game for the Indiana Pacers last season.

Tyler Locklear

The Archbishop Curley High School graduate made his Major League Baseball debut June 9 with the Seattle Mariners.

Locklear, 23, homered twice in his first 30 games after slugging 10 homers and driving in 36 runs with the Tacoma Rainiers of Triple-A. The first baseman was the No. 58 pick in the 2022 baseball draft after starring at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Baltimore baseball fans get a chance to see Locklear in action as the Orioles began a three-game series in Seattle July 2.

Dylan Beard

The Archbishop Spalding High School graduate grabbed national headlines with his story for working a Walmart deli counter while training for the U.S. Olympic track and field trials. He made a great run at the trials, racing all the way to the semifinals of the 110-meter hurdles.

Beard finished 15th overall June 27, running a 13.38 in the semifinals, missing qualifying for the finals by 0.11 seconds. He finished second in his opening heat at the Trials in Eugene, Ore., June 24, running a personal best of 13.19 to advance.

Mount de Sales graduate Juliette Whittaker, who runs at Stanford University, qualified for the Olympics June 26 by finishing third in the women’s 800-meter run. (The Catholic Review will have a full story on this in the coming days.)

Joe Hayburn

The St. Mary’s High graduate and rising sophomore at Loyola University Maryland won his heat and finished tied for 20th in the 100-meter backstroke at the U.S. Olympic swimming trials June 16 in Indianapolis.

Hayburn set a Loyola school record at the trials by finishing in 54.96 seconds to win his heat. Hayburn also competed in the 200-meter backstroke at the event.

Email Gerry Jackson at gjackson@CatholicReview.org

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