As the NCAA tournament approaches, Montgomery County proudly celebrates the standout athletes who hail from the area or attended high school in the county and will be representing their schools on the national stage. This year, a talented group of men and women players will showcase their skills, bringing local pride to the competition.
Men’s Players:
Yale:
– Bez Mbeng (Senior, Potomac, MD, Our Lady of Good Counsel)
– Teo Rice (Senior, Bethesda, MD, Maret School/Phillips Exeter)
American:
– Colin Smalls (Graduate Student, Upper Marlboro, MD, St. Andrew’s in Potomac)
Louisville:
– Khani Rooths (Freshman, Washington, D.C., IMG Academy; first two high school seasons at Georgetown Prep)
UNC:
– Dante Mayo Jr. (Freshman, Gaithersburg, MD, Richard Montgomery)
Robert Morris:
– Ryan Prather Jr. (Sophomore, Clarksburg, MD, Clarksburg)
McNeese State:
– Brandon Murray (Senior, Germantown, MD, IMG Academy; previously with LSU, Georgetown, and Ole Miss)
Women’s Players:
UCLA:
– Kiki Rice (Junior, Bethesda, MD, Sidwell Friends)
– Zania Socka-Nguemen (Freshman, Silver Spring, MD, Sidwell Friends)
Harvard:
– Mary Hollensteiner (Sophomore, Bethesda, MD, Stone Ridge)
Duke:
– Riley Nelson (Sophomore, Clarksburg, MD, Bullis)
– Ella Moore (Freshman, Poolesville, MD, Holton-Arms)
– Olivia Martin (Junior, Gaithersburg, MD, Quince Orchard)
These talented athletes have honed their skills through dedication and hard work, and their journeys are a testament to the rich basketball culture in Montgomery County. As they prepare to take the court in the NCAA tournament, the community eagerly anticipates their performances and wishes them the best of luck in their quest for victory. If we’ve missed any players with Montgomery County ties, please let us know and we’ll make sure to add them.