On the occasion, there is a longstanding tradition of the father presenting the prestigious blazer to his son.

The Stubbs family has the routine down pat.

When 2024 Boys’ Latin graduate John Stubbs recently earned a roster spot on Australia’s Under-20 National Team — which is set to play in the 2025 World Lacrosse Men’s U-20 Championship in August — it made three generations of Aussie national lacrosse players in the family.

John’s grandfather, Bill, who resides in Australia, won a silver medal playing for the senior team at the 1974 World Cup. John’s father, Aaron, who grew up in Australia before moving to Baltimore County in 1998, claimed a bronze medal for the U-19 national team in 1988 and then a silver for the senior team in 1994.

And now there’s John, 18, who spent December in Australia participating in two tryout sessions that led to the good news in January.

With his parents by his side, John received a Zoom call from Australia’s U-20 coach Robert Lawson that awarded his spot.

“Coach let us know I was getting a spot and it was going to be a big job for me, a starting spot in the midfield. It was an incredible feeling,” John said.

The 20-nation tournament runs from Aug. 15 to 24 in Jeju Island, South Korea. Australia will compete in Pool A alongside the United States, Canada and Haudenosaunee.

For John, the decision to make the journey to Australia to try out for the team came with sacrifices, pressure and a family blessing.

After spending two varsity years at Boys’ Latin, he earned a scholarship to Monmouth, but opted to delay his college career to focus on making the team. He’s set to attend and play at Howard Community College this school year before transferring to a four-year school.

His monthlong stay in Australia included bookend tryouts in Adelaide and Queensland, with the rest of his time spent with his extended family in Perth, where he last visited when he was 6 years old.

Lawson, who played alongside Aaron for the national team, saw familiar traits in the father-son pair. John followed his father and grandfather by playing the midfield position, and he’s brought the same athleticism, grit and game sense.

“[John’s] a strong athletic player that has fit in very well to the Australian style on and off the field,” Lawson wrote via e-mail. “Australian Lacrosse is full of family tradition and we’re pleased he is able to share in this story. I played with John’s dad, Aaron, on the 1994 Australian team that competed in world championships in Manchester, England.  A proud Western Australian, Aaron was a great character and bustling two-way midfielder.”

Father and grandfather couldn’t be prouder.

“It’s exciting. The young fella worked hard, did a lot of extra work and effort, so it was a good reward for him,” Aaron said.

Plans are in the works to find a time and place for Aaron to carry on the tradition of presenting the green jacket to John, likely somewhere in Catonsville, where the family resides.

For Aaron, this special time brought back his own special memories of when he got the chance to follow his father’s lead.

“To actually make the Australian team, follow in his footsteps, it was pretty amazing,” Aaron said. “We both played the same position, so we almost mirrored each other. It was just rewarding knowing you put in all the time and effort.”

During tryouts, John heard inspiring stories about his father and grandfather. The Stubbs family has long made its mark in Australian lacrosse, and John is excited to add to it.

Pressure? Sure. But for John, just watching his father’s reaction to the news that he made the team already makes it well worth it.

“He cried, and I was just really happy to see him that happy,” he said. “I’m just glad I was good enough to make the team and have the opportunity to play. It’s incredible.”

In early August, the family will be leaving for Japan, where the team will play tuneup games against Canada and Japan before heading to South Korea. A GoFundMe page has also been posted to help raise money for John’s travel and accommodation expenses.

“It’s an honor, really an honor, and I see it as a privilege more than anything,” John said. “Between my grandfather, me, dad, it’s going back so far. So many decades, and maybe someday, I’ll have a son to make it four generations.”

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Among the top 44 boys and girls selected to play in the prestigious North vs. South showcase games are nine area girls and seven boys. The girls game starts at 5:30 p.m., and the boys game follows at 8, with both televised on ESPNU.

Here are a few storylines to follow on Saturday:

Area girls looking to make their mark at Clemson

Led by Manchester Valley graduate Emma Penczek, The Baltimore Sun’s All-Metro Player of the Year and recently named girls Athlete of the Year, upstart Clemson is bringing in a strong 2025 recruiting class with area flavor.

Penczek, Inside Lacrosse’s No. 2 recruit, headlines the group as a highly skilled, do-everything midfielder. Joining Penczek are St. Paul’s attacker Marleigh O’Day and Maryvale Prep goalie Tess DeLuca. This past spring, Clemson went 14-7 overall and 6-3 in the Atlantic Coast Conference, making it first NCAA Tournament appearance and claiming an opening-round win over Navy.

Penczek is looking forward to helping the Tigers continue their upward trend. In leading Manchester Valley to the Class 2A state crown and a 19-0 record this spring, she closed her stellar four-year career with 329 goals, breaking the Carroll County record of 307 set by Century star Katie Schwartzmann in 2010. In addition, her 158 assists, 487 points, 437 draw controls and 122 caused turnovers are all program bests.

“I’m so excited to go to Clemson — everything about it is so perfect,” Penczek said. “The people, the place, the atmosphere, the coaches. The group of girls I’m going into freshman year with are all so amazing and I can’t imagine doing it with anyone else.”

A sneak peek at future Terps

Maryland lacrosse fans will get a preview of what’s to come from three area standouts who will be on the field Saturday before heading to College Park to start their college careers.

Boys’ Latin attackman Matt Higgins and McDonogh goalie Aidan Seibel — both two-time All-Metro first team picks — will be playing in the boys game. St. Paul’s defender Sofia Herrera is the lone area girl.

Two more future Terps were named All Americans. Midfielder Christopher Alexis (Salisbury, Connecticut) will be participating in the boys game and attacker Ava Meyn (Bayport-Blue Point, New York) is set to play in the girls game.

Cuomo will be locked in

While players often don’t go all out in all-star game settings, Calvert Hall faceoff specialist Ben Cuomo sees Saturday’s showcase as a valuable chance to see how he measures up with the other country’s top players at the X.

“With faceoff guys, there’s a ton of good ones, but very rarely do you get to go against the best of the best,” he said. “So to be able to play against the top-ranked guys in the country is truly an amazing opportunity. I’m excited to go to battle.”

The chance to play in the prestigious game caps an incredible senior season for Cuomo, a first-team All-Metro pick who was instrumental in the No. 1 Cardinals run to the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference championship.

The Yale commit won 78% of his faceoffs (238 of 305) and added five goals and three assists.

Ever since watching Penn State faceoff star Chase Mullins play in the 2021 showcase, Cuomo made it a goal to play in the big game.

“It’s an incredible honor,” Cuomo said. “When I got the call from Inside Lacrosse, I mentioned having a vivid memory of watching Chase Mullins play when he graduated in 2021. He was my original faceoff mentor and, ever since, it’s been a huge goal of mine. So to get that call was amazing.”

Avery Saviano makes it two straight for Severna Park

For a second straight year, Severna Park will be represented in the girls game with Yale-bound defender Avery Saviano getting the nod after Alyssa Chung made the roster last season. Saviano and Penczek are the lone public school players from the area invited to play in the showcase.

Senior All-America Lacrosse Games

At Towson University’s Johnny Unitas Stadium

Saturday

Girls: 5:30 p.m.

Boys: 8 p.m.

TV: ESPNU

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It’s fight week for three of the gym’s professional boxers — Malik Titus, Tyrell Boyd and Mack Allison IV — and with all the heavy duty prep work complete, gym owner and longtime trainer Mack Allison III likes to lighten the load for his star pupils.

Saturday night, the trio will showcase their skills in front of the hometown crowd at World Champion Boxing XXXVII at Horseshoe Casino.

As part of the 12-bout event, hosted by Ponytail Promotions, Titus (14-1-1, 13 knockouts) takes on Texas native Erick Prieto in the heavyweight division; Boyd (16-0, 14 knockouts) meets local Columbia resident Ashton Sykes in the super middle weight division; and, with his father, Allison III, in his corner, Allison IV (21-4, 14 knockouts) headlines the night against Mexico native Angel Varela Urena in the lightweight division.

For the Time 2 Grind contingent, it’s all systems go. The message from Allison III to his fighters is a familiar one.

“Fight hard because you trained hard,” said his son, Allison IV, 27. “Our gym is named Time 2 Grind, so he basically says you’ve done the grind and now it’s time to shine.”

After spending 16 years as a trainer at Upton Boxing Center, the senior Allison, who turned 55 on Tuesday, opened his gym in 2015. Fittingly, it’s located at Transforming Life Church of God on Sipple Avenue in northeast Baltimore.

In addition to boxing, life skills are taught in a family environment. Overflow success has followed. Titus and Allison IV are current U.S. WBC title holders and another prized fighter who is not on this weekend’s card, Destiny Day Owens, is the first female world champion out of Baltimore.

“Coach Mack has brought more to me than just boxing. He’s a mentor. He’s a dad. He’s a brother. And a great teacher,” said Boyd, 30, who’s been a pro for five years and worked with Allison III since he was 15. “He provides a lot of character development. When you’re involved with Coach Mack, he educates you on how to not only be a better fighter, but a better man as well.”

When Allison IV was a child, his father, who grew up boxing and competing in the martial arts, never pressured him into boxing. But tagging along with his dad, he quickly developed the same passion for the sport. Their work ethic is also a match.

“It’s beautiful,” Mack III said. “We share the same dedication. I would train every single day — train and train and train — and I look at him now and it’s like ‘Wow, he’s doing the same thing I was doing.’ And that’s without me telling him to do that. So I know he really loves it.”

Starting the sport when he was 6 years old, Mack IV had 115 amateur bouts and won five Golden Glove state championship and three Junior Olympic titles before turning pro. He recognizes and cherishes the unique relationship he has with his dad.

“It’s been wonderful,” he said. “He always gave me a choice to do things and would support anything I wanted to do and I always wanted to box. When he saw I made the choice and wanted to keep going with boxing, he’s given me his all.”

Come Saturday, the Time 2 Grind crew are ready to give their all. On Tuesday, the younger Allison gave his dad a new pair of Nike tennis shoes for his birthday. But him, Titus and Boyd have promised more presents for the elder Allison by the end of the night Saturday.

Three big wins.

“Yup, yup, yup. Gonna win another one for him,” Allison IV said.

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The proposed changes recommended by the organization’s rules committee were approved at the annual meeting in June. They will be in play for the Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association. The Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association, which plays with NCAA rules, won’t be affected.

Here’s a look at some of the more noteworthy rule changes:

• No defender other than a properly equipped goalie can enter a team’s own crease with the intent of blocking a shot or acting as a goalie. A personal foul for illegal equipment will be called as a non-releasable foul.

• Goalies will no longer be permitted a maximum of five seconds to re-enter the crease on any restart. The rule aligns the treatment of the goalie with that of a field player when it comes to injury or equipment issues while outside the crease. It also eliminates the need for a referee to judge whether a goalkeeper has left the crease to attempt to delay the game or for a legitimate purpose.

• To minimize injury risks, hooking, lifting or pinning an opponent’s body with the crosse has been added to better describe holding penalties. Also, the loss of a helmet will be a technical foul for illegal procedure to encourage players to have their helmets and chin straps properly secured.

• If an interrupted game cannot be resumed on the same day and the score is not tied, it is considered legal and complete if 75% of playing time has elapsed. In addition, an interrupted game might be modified (reduced or running time) or terminated and considered complete by mutual agreement of the opposing teams.

• Regarding faceoffs, language was added stating that if a faceoff player must be repeatedly adjusted, a delay-of-game penalty can be called.

“Through rules changes and discussion, the committee spent a significant amount of time addressing risk minimization and the personal equipment that supports athlete safety,” said Lindsey Atkinson, NFHS director of sports and liaison to the Boys Lacrosse Rules Committee. “Additionally, the committee spent time addressing minor rules and editorial changes that support easier understanding and adjudication of the rules for officials.”

The complete list of rules changes will be available on the NFHS website at nfhs.org.

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In his only season coaching at Loyola Blakefield last year, the Mount Saint Joseph and UMBC graduate guided the No. 1 Dons (14-2-2) to a second straight Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference title. He previously served as the coach at Gerstell and as an assistant at Mount Saint Joseph and McDonogh.

For the Annapolis native who still resides there, the move to St. Mary’s was a two-fold decision.

From a personal standpoint, he lives minutes away and his three daughters are now set up to attend the Catholic parish school. Caltabiano looks forward to building on the program’s recent success and further growing the sport in Annapolis.

The Saints went 11-3-2 last season and 7-2-1 in the MIAA B Conference, falling to rival Severn, 2-1, in the tournament semifinals.

“They’ve had some sustained success in the B and the goal every year will be trying to win the championship,” he said. “Being from Anne Arundel County, I also wished soccer would have taken off a little bit more. I’ve always gone to Baltimore for soccer and a lot of other kids have, too. So my goal is to grow soccer in Annapolis. There’s talent here and I want to provide the right platform for the kids so they don’t have to drive an hour to play in a competitive program.”

St. Mary’s interim athletic director Jason Budroni shares that vision.

“We are very excited to have Geaton Caltabiano take over as the new head coach of our boys soccer program,” Budroni said. “Coach Caltabiano brings a wealth of soccer knowledge and experience to our team and his coaching philosophy has been proven successful. I am looking forward to watching him bring St. Mary’s boys soccer to a new level.”

Loyola promoted assistant coach Lucas Winters on an interim basis. He joined Caltabiano’s staff last year and also serves as an assistant dean of students in the upper school.

“I’m thrilled to be entrusted with leading Loyola Blakefield on the soccer field,” he said. “The program has a storied tradition in Baltimore soccer, built on the dedication of the many student-athletes and coaches who came before me. The young men who walk the halls of Loyola Blakefield are intelligent, talented, caring, and future world changers. It is an honor to be part of this incredible community.”

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Immanuel Quickley (John Carroll/Toronto Raptors), Bub Carrington (St. Frances/Washington Wizards), Jalen Smith (Mount Saint Joseph/Chicago Bulls), Cam Whitmore (Spalding/Houston Rockets) and Haywood Highsmith (Curley/Miami Heat) are among the current area players on NBA rosters looking to carve out their respective professional careers.

The Baltimore Sun compiled a list of the 10 most accomplished NBA players from the Baltimore area. These were the criteria for our ranking:

• The player had to be an NBA draft pick
• The player had to play in the league for at least 10 years
• We then ranked them on their NBA accomplishments

No. 1: Carmelo Anthony

High school: Towson Catholic (1999-2001)

Draft day: Selected third overall from Syracuse by the Denver Nuggets in 2003

High school days: After growing five inches in the summer before his junior year, the versatile 6-foot-7 swing guard displayed a complete all-around game by averaging 23.1 points, 10.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists to earn All-Metro Player of the Year honors. Anthony spent his senior year at national power Oak Hill Academy in Virginia before leading Syracuse to a national championship in 2003, his lone college season.

NBA accomplishments and more: The 10-time All-Star, who played on six teams, averaged 22.5 points per game in a 19-year career that saw him leave as the league’s ninth leading scorer with 28,289 points. Anthony represented the USA in four Olympics, claiming three gold medals and one bronze. Anthony will be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame later this year.

Carmelo Anthony retires as the greatest basketball player ever from Baltimore | ANALYSIS

2. Sam Cassell

High school: Dunbar (1984-88)

Draft day: Selected 24th overall from Florida State by the Houston Rockets in 1993

High school days: Playing for legendary coaches Bob Wade and Pete Pompey, the fearless, sharpshooting guard closed out his fine high school career with a sensational senior season, averaging 22 points and nine assists to be named The Sun’s Metro Player of the Year.

NBA accomplishments and more: No area pro has won more NBA titles than Cassell, who won three in his 15-year career. Playing for eight teams, he scored 15,635 points (15.7 ppg) and added 5,939 assists (6.0 apg) while making one All-Star Game appearance. He claimed a fourth NBA crown as an assistant coach with the Boston Celtics last year.

3. Gene Shue

High school: Towson Catholic (1950 graduate)

Draft day: Selected third overall from Maryland by the Philadelphia Warriors in 1954

High school days: Decades before Carmelo Anthony, Shue, a 6-foot-2 shooting guard from Baltimore City’s Govans neighborhood, put Towson Catholic on the basketball map. An All-State player who is an honorary inductee into the Baltimore Catholic League Hall of Fame, Shue was known for a spin move that set up his jumper. He went on to become an All-American at Maryland.

NBA accomplishments and more: In 10 seasons playing on four teams, Shue was a five-time All-Star who averaged 18.3 points per game to finish with 10,068 career points. He went on to coach for 22 years in the NBA, winning 784 games and twice being named the league’s Coach of the Year. Shue led the Baltimore Bullets to the NBA Finals in 1971 and later coached the Washington Bullets for six seasons. He died in 2002.

4. Rudy Gay

High school: Eastern Tech (2000-02), Spalding (2002-04)

Draft day: Selected eighth overall from Connecticut by the Houston Rockets in 2006

High school days: Transferring to Spalding entering his junior year, the 6-foot-9 forward led the Cavaliers to a Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference title and two trips to the Baltimore Catholic League title game. In his senior year, he was named The Sun’s All-Metro Player of the Year and a McDonald’s All-American after averaging 15.8 points and 5.6 rebounds per game.

NBA accomplishments and more: In his 17-year career playing for five teams — Houston traded him to the Memphis Grizzlies shortly after the draft — Gay finished with 17,642 points (15.8 ppg) and 6,283 rebounds (5.6 rpg). He was a member of USA gold medal teams at the 2010 FIBA World Championships and 2014 FIBA World Cup.

5. Muggsy Bogues

High school: Dunbar (1981-83)

Draft day: Selected 12th overall from Wake Forest by the Washington Bullets in 1987

High school days: In his two varsity years, the 5-foot-3 point guard was the fearless leader of the mega-talented Poets, who went undefeated in both seasons. As a senior, playing with fellow future NBA players Reggie Williams, Reggie Lewis and David Wingate, he was named team MVP that went 31-0, nationally ranked No. 1 and widely considered the greatest boys high school team ever assembled.

NBA accomplishments and more: The NBA’s smallest player enjoyed a solid 14-year career playing for four teams and finishing with 6,858 points (7.7 ppg) and 6,726 assists (7.6 apg). Bogues spent the brunt of his career with the Charlotte Hornets and returned to the franchise in 2014 as a team ambassador and special projects adviser.

6. Will Barton

High school: Lake Clifton (2008-09)

Draft day: Selected 40th overall from Memphis by the Portland Trailblazers in 2012

High school days: Spending his junior year at Lake — he transferred from National Christian Academy and then left for New Hampshire’s Brewster Academy as a senior — the 6-foot-5 forward was all-around superb in leading the Lakers (28-0) to the Class 3A title. Named The Sun’s Metro Player of the Year, he averaged 18 points, 10 rebounds and four assists while consistently stepping up in the big playoff moments.

NBA accomplishments and more: In 10 years playing for four teams, Barton totaled 7,625 points (11.2 ppg), 2,792 rebounds (4.1 rpg) and 1,817 assists (2.7 apg). Playing seven-plus seasons for the Denver Nuggets, he ranks second in franchise history with 804 made 3-pointers.

7. Reggie Williams

High school: Dunbar (1980-83)

Draft day: Selected fourth overall from Georgetown by the Los Angeles Clippers in 1987

High school days: As a senior, the 6-foot-7 forward was the top player on what is widely considered the greatest high school team ever — the Poets’ 1982-83 team that went 31-0. The top recruit in the country averaged 25 points and 10 rebounds and was named Mr. USA Basketball and earned McDonald’s and Parade All-American status.

NBA accomplishments and more: In a 10-year career playing for six teams, Williams scored 7,508 points (12.5 ppg), totaled 2,393 rebounds (4.0 rpg) and dished out 1,492 assists (2.5 apg). In the college ranks, he led Georgetown to the 1983 national championship, named the title game’s MVP.

8. Quintin Dailey

High school: Cardinal Gibbons (1976-79)

Draft day: Selected seventh overall from San Francisco by the Chicago Bulls in 1982

High school days: In scoring 2,844 career points in his three varsity seasons, Dailey averaged over 30 points in his junior and senior years. He led Gibbons to two Baltimore Catholic League regular season titles and was named The Sun’s Metro Player of the Year and a McDonald’s All-American in his senior year.

NBA accomplishments and more: In his 10-year career playing for three teams, Dailey finished with 7,470 points (14.1 ppg) and 1,188 assists (2.3 apg). In his three-year college career, he finished with 1,184 career points, which ranks second all time at San Francisco. He died in 2010.

9. Marvin Webster

High school: Edmondson (1966-70)

Draft day: Selected third overall from Morgan State by the Atlanta Hawks in 1975; also selected first overall in the ABA Draft by the Denver Nuggets in 1975

High school days: A 7-footer, Webster played four varsity seasons at Edmondson, overwhelming opponents with his size and skill at both ends and the glass. He led the West Baltimore city school to a share of the Maryland Scholastic Association B Conference championship in the 1969-70 season.

NBA accomplishments and more: After spending his rookie season in the ABA with the Denver Nuggets, the franchise moved to the NBA where Webster finished his 10-year career with 4,302 points (7.0 ppg), 4,218 rebounds (6.8 rpg) and 881 blocked shots (1.4 bpg). Webster led Morgan State to the NCAA Division II championship in 1974, averaging 21 points, 22.4 rebounds and eight blocked shots per game. His defensive prowess earned him the nickname, “The Human Eraser.” The local basketball legend died in 2009.

10. David Wingate

High school: Dunbar (1980-82)

Draft day: Selected 44th from Georgetown by the Philadelphia 76ers in 1986

High school days: Enjoying a breakthrough senior season, his second on varsity, the 6-foot-5 Wingate was a hounding defender and top scorer for the Poets, who went 29-0 and finished ranked No. 2 nationally to Calvert Hall.

NBA accomplishments and more: In a 15-year career playing for five teams, Wingate was renowned for his defense and versatility seeing time at shooting guard and small forward. He totaled 4,186 points (5.6 ppg), 1,420  rebounds (1.9 rpg) and 1,376 assists (1.9 apg). At Georgetown, he was a four-year starter and averaged 11.2 points per game for the Hoyas’ national championship team in 1984.

Have a news tip? Contact Glenn Graham at ggraham@baltsun.com, 410-332-6636 and x.com/GlennGrahamSun.

A graduate and former standout player at McDaniel College, contributing to three straight Centennial Conference titles from 1997 to 1999, Stichel has extensive high school coaching experience in the area.

In addition to previously serving as an assistant coach at Curley, he also had stints at New Town, Loyola Blakefield, Calvert Hall and John Carroll. As head coach at John Carroll, he led the Patriots to the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association B Conference championship in 2014.

The school’s announcement stated: “Coach Stichel is deeply committed to shaping student-athletes both on and off the field. His enthusiasm for football, combined with his focus on mentorship and academic growth, aligns perfectly with Curley’s mission. The school is thrilled to have him at the helm as the Friars move forward into an exciting new era of excellence and competition.”

Stichel replaces Bobby Jones, who, in his lone season, guided the Friars (9-3) to a 7-0 mark and the MIAA B Conference crown before accepting the offensive coordinator position at The College of New Jersey.

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Greenwell, 80, guided the Lakers to four Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association B Conference championships, the last coming in 2021. Boys’ Latin went 17-5 this season with a 12-2 record atop the MIAA B Black Division.

“I feel the timing is right for me personally to make a change,” said Greenwell, noting that the 2021 championship series win over St. Paul’s was a career highlight. “For the past 15 years, I have lived and breathed Laker baseball. But for me, it was always more than just being the baseball coach.

“I have enjoyed being a part of the BL family, building lasting relationships with players, parents, and the athletic administration. I will always be a supporter of the School and its programs.”

The school thanked Greenwell for his contributions and noted that his dedication to the program and its players was immeasurable.

Before coming to Boys’ Latin, Greenwell served as a scout for the Seattle Mariners from 1998 to 2001 and as varsity head coach at the Park School from 2001 to 2003.

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And then came a clincher.

When his father, Bino Ranson, a longtime assistant coach at Maryland, was added to the Hawks’ staff in May, the younger Ranson’s college decision turned into a dream choice.

After taking his first official visit this past Wednesday, the rising senior guard committed to the Atlantic 10 school the next day. His dad, who spent 11 of his 20-year coaching career in College Park, joined coach Billy Lange’s staff on May 21.

“It’s pretty cool. I know my dad is a great coach because I’ve been watching him all my life. I always thought it could be a possibility to play for him no matter where he was at, so it’s pretty surreal for it to happen,” BJ Ranson said. “Him being there to help me out with different things is great and I know he’s going to coach me hard like everyone else.”

Set to become a four-year varsity player at Mount Saint Joseph, Ranson had a breakout junior season in which he averaged 17 points and three assists to earn All-Metro second-team honors.

While his precise outside shooting has long been his forte, he also brings a high basketball IQ and energy, along with brash confidence in big moments. He’s also an honor roll student.

His decision to commit to Saint Joseph’s has his dad equally emphatic. The Hawks went 22-13 last season and posted an 11-7 mark in conference play.

“It’s one of those things that you always think about, but are never sure if it will happen that way.  But it just so happened it was in the cards and I’m excited,” said Bino Ranson, who last served as an assistant at DePaul in 2023. “He’s a great kid, an honor roll student. The work he does in the classroom mirrors the work he puts in on the court.”

Among the seven Division I schools that recruited Ranson, Saint Joseph’s worked the hardest with assistant coach Phillip Lawrence-Ricks, a fellow Mount Saint Joseph graduate, instrumental.

BJ Ranson was impressed with the detailed plan the coaching staff creates to develop players. And the program has a quality list of standout guards, dating to Jameer Nelson and Delonte West in the early 2000s and more recently Erik Reynolds, who became the program’s all-time leading scorer this past season.

Ranson is confident that he’ll fit in.

“Every day, I work pretty hard on my entire game and being a good student and a good person is important as well,” he said. “That’s something Coach Lange told me, how good a person I am, so I just want to continue to be that good person and carry over my work ethic to Saint Joe’s.”

Mount Saint Joseph coach Pat Clatchey get an everyday look at the genuine love Ranson has for the game and the work he puts in.

“BJ is a guy that’s grown up around the game and they gym, so it’s been a way of life for him,” he said. “He loves to be in the gym, loves to work on his game and when you have that kind of work ethic and commitment, coupled with being a very good student and high character person, good things are going to happen.”

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The daily reminder for the recent graduate, who starred in football and track and field, came from his father, Vaughn, who also served as his track coach.

“In hurdles and running in general, my dad always told me you got to finish to the line,” Justin said. “And I took it that it can be used for anything — finish with sports, finish with school. That’s how you get through stuff — you don’t stop until you’re past the line.”

A standout wide receiver for the Class 4A/3A state runner-up football team and an individual state champion in the hurdles and jumps in the two track and field seasons, all capped by the program’s first Class 4A outdoor team title this spring, DeVaughn indeed finished strong in a sensational senior year.

For his well-sustained excellence — a product of gifted natural ability and endless drive — matched by fine leadership that spread throughout the entire East Baltimore school, DeVaughn has been selected as The Baltimore Sun’s 2024-25 high school boys Athlete of the Year.

He is the second consecutive Maryland football recruit recognized for the prestigious award, which was established in 1967. Recent Spalding grad Malik Washington, a highly touted quarterback, was last year’s recipient.

“For this to come true is a big blessing, a great accomplishment,” DeVaughn said. “We’re at a public school here with a lot of other things going on and I’m glad to be able to spotlight Mervo sports because it’s rare.”

DeVaughn, who was also named The Sun’s All-Metro outdoor track and field Athlete of the Year, was start-to-finish electric this school year.

He led Mervo football to an 11-3 record and the Class 4A/3A state title game, a heartbreaking 21-20 overtime loss to North Point, finishing with 46 catches for 959 yards and seven touchdowns.

In the winter track and field season, he won the state title in the 55-meter hurdles.

Then he capped his high school career in grand fashion with a team-carrying performance at the outdoor state championships by winning the 110 hurdles, long jump and anchoring the first-place 800 relay.

With only seven competitors, the Mustangs dominated the Class 4A meet, outpointing runner-up Crofton by a substantial 73-48 margin.

“Seeing him fulfill all the things he wanted to accomplish, it was great, and really to throw the team on his back, that’s how you’re supposed to do it. He rose to the occasion,” his father said.

Amid his senior year, DeVaughn, who finished with a 3.2 GPA, considered what receiving this award could do in terms of bringing positive attention to not only Mervo, but Baltimore City public schools.

Throughout his high school career, he made a concerted effort to be a role model, leading by his actions, performance and welcoming personality. And despite having opportunities to transfer to a private school, he wanted to make a difference at Mervo.

“A lot of kids look up to athletes like me and I make sure to set a good example to show everything you got to do to get to where I got to be,” he said. “It’s not easy. Playing sports is fun, but you got to worry about your grades first. So it’s great being a role model for other students and other athletes that are younger than me. That was part of my plan.”

In the past four years, Mervo football coach and athletic director Patrick Nixon has had a daily look at DeVaughn’s successful path, centered on faith, hard work, priorities, accountability and respect for all those around him.

He’s impressed with how his star pupil resisted temptations that can come in Baltimore City, handled his ups and downs with humility and smarts, and stayed himself while all his success piled up.

In addition to the strong influence of his parents, DeVaughn has looked up to four older siblings who were all Division I student-athletes. And now he’s looked up to by one younger brother.

“We’ve had a lot of great athletes come through, but I don’t think we’ve had anybody as multi-talented as Justin,” Nixon said. “One of the things for our community is that he’s a cool kid, very popular. And he’s shown you can do it all and you can have it all right here, be successful and be graceful, helpful and polite and bring high character.”

As a teammate in both sports from the same 2025 class, Kasir Hicks came to appreciate the vibes DeVaughn brought every day.

“It was a blessing to have him around,” said Hicks, who’s set to play football at Merrimack College. “Justin brought so much positivity not only to sports, but just the school in general. To have him as a teammate was beautiful because he did it all and asked for no handouts. It helped me, and even though we’re the same age, he brought me a great example and a great standard.”

As May and the final month of high school approached, DeVaughn was champing at the bit to get to Maryland and begin play at the next level (he left for College Park in mid-June), but he also knew that he had unfinished business. That was completed with the state crown in track and field.

To get that taste to go along with the state title in football during his junior year completed his high school athletic career on an incredible high.

“The feeling of winning a state championship in football and then track [is my best memory]. Two different teams and seeing the two different sides — it was like two different atmospheres and being able to feel both was great and a definite highlight,” he said.

The next exciting stop is Maryland for DeVaughn, who is excited to make a difference the only way he knows how. His expectations are fittingly high.

“My personality isn’t going anywhere. I’m always going to be that fun person you can always talk to. It’s just the simple things that make me a leader, always being there for my teammates, stuff like that,” he said. “There ain’t no ‘I’ in team, so it’s something we got to do together. Something I feel I can do is bring all the team together to become a better one. That’s why I say I’m always going to bring my personality everywhere I go.”

Have a news tip? Contact Glenn Graham at ggraham@baltsun.com, 410-332-6636 and x.com/GlennGrahamSun.