When George Mason made its stunning run to the NCAA Final Four, the Patriots did it with five starters who were Maryland natives. Maybe Scott McClary, coach at another Northern Virginia college, Division III Marymount, took note.
The Saints third-year coach recently received commitments from three Maryland players: Magruder High forward Elvis Ellis and Eleanor Roosevelt High guards Patrick Prewitt and Redell Spinks.
Ellis, a 6-foot-3, 225-pound three-year starter with a rare blend of power and quickness, averaged 14 points and five rebounds in leading Magruder (22-3) to the 4A West Region title game.
Prewitt and Spinks, both 6-1 guards, were key contributors for ER (25-2), which lost to Whitman High in the 4A state championship game. Prewitt, a four-year starter, averaged five points and four assists, serving as the Raiders’ captain and defensive stopper.
“We’re excited about them going to Marymount,” said ER assistant coach Glen Farello. “It’s definitely a program on the rise.”
Marymount (10-15) depended on several players from Maryland this past season including Charles Atakora (Blair High), Brandon Parker (DeMatha High), Pooyan Rahimi (Walter Johnson High) and Rick Palmer (Magruder High). Butit was a Northern Virginia native, recent graduate Corey Diamond (Mount Vernon High), who led the team in scoring (11.8 points per game).
