While the nation witnessed University of Florida and University of Connecticut (UConn) crowned as the 2025 NCAA men’s and women’s basketball champions, respectively, throughout March Madness, the DMV watched with pride as players from the area were well represented and dominating on the court.
In the women’s and men’s competitions, the Washington Catholic Athletic Association (WCAC) was in full effect. University of Maryland’s Rodney Rice, a graduate of St. John’s College High School and DeShawn Harris-Smith is a graduate of Paul VI. Further, Duke’s Darren Harris, another Paul VI graduate, was also on the national stage in the Final Four.
Graduates of Bishop McNamara were highlighted in the women’s national championship game, with the UConn Huskies’ Qadence Samuels, a graduate from Bishop McNamara, and the runner-up South Carolina Gamecocks Maddie McDaniel.
Although some joke there’s something special in the DMV water when it comes to building strong athletes, the success of local athletes is more than a coincidence. The high school programs continue to produce high-caliber athletes who make a mark on basketball and beyond.
As local high schools are gaining national recognition and rankings, there are some elite academy programs that have reached a high profile in offering college-like exposure. While the DMV has been dominating on the court, these preparatory programs nationwide have kept a pulse on happenings locally, and recently tapped area coaches to take their athletes to the next level: IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, St. James Academy in Springfield, Virginia, and Montverde in Montverde, Florida.
“It’s only natural that these new elite academy schools bring in qualified coaches who have set a standard for basketball success,” says Oliver, who attended DeMatha Catholic High School and coached at H.D. Woodson in Northeast, D.C and Bishop McNamara in Maryland. “When I came to IMG, it was a smooth transition for me. I always felt that McNamara was a national program so when I got here, it was an easy transition.”
While Oliver’s mission of building excellent overall athletes has remained constant from McNamara to IMG, not everything is the same
“The big difference between the traditional school programs and these like IMG is the college preparation,” he said. “Everything is set up to create a college environment, from the scheduling of classes to strength and conditioning to the schedule and dorm life.”
For Oliver, who left a legacy behind at McNamara as the Mustangs finished the season No. 1 in both the area and the country, coaching at IMG has provided a stronger opportunity to put the athletes first.
“When I was at McNamara and before that at H.D. Woodson, I taught five classes. Here at IMG, I am responsible primarily for boys’ basketball and all the other things that go along with that,” Oliver told The Informer. “There is no limit to the possibilities.”
Tamika Dudley Tapped for St. James Girls Basketball Program
The St. James girls’ basketball program, rooted in the Performance Academy at the Springfield, Virginia sports complex, is a nascent but ambitious endeavor that began taking shape with the facility’s broader athletic vision.
The St. James opened in 2018 as a 450,000-square-foot multi-sport complex, aiming to fill a gap in elite training facilities in the D.C. metro area.
While initially focused on youth sports like soccer and hosting events, the formal girls’ basketball program emerged with the launch of the Performance Academy in August 2024, designed to blend academics and athletics for students grades 6-12.
Enter Tamika Dudley, who served as head coach of the Sidwell Friends School girls’ basketball team for four seasons before recently becoming the new director of girls basketball at The St. James.
At Sidwell Friends, she led the team to a remarkable 112-13 record, including an undefeated season in 2021–22 and No. 1 ranking, and coached the team to three Independent School League championships and three D.C. State Athletic Association titles.
Dudley has coached top high school recruits like Duke’s Jadyn Donovan, and three top players at University of California Los Angeles (UCLA): Kiki Rice, Zania Socka-Nguemen, and her daughter Kendall Dudley.
In addition, she has been named three-time District of Columbia State Athletic Association (DCSAA) Coach of the Year, two-time ISL Coach of the Year, USA Today National Coach of the Year and Naismith Coach of the Year.
This year’s team ranked No. 2 in the area behind McNamara and No. 10 nationally.
“Tamika Dudley’s impact on the game speaks for itself,” said Elyse Graziano, chief sports officer at The St. James. “She has a track record of elevating programs and preparing athletes for success at the highest levels. Her leadership, experience and ability to develop players make her the perfect fit to grow our basketball program.”
Dudley’s coaching philosophy emphasizes skill development, leadership and player growth. In 2024, she expanded her impact on the sport by joining USA Basketball as an assistant coach for the Women’s Nike Hoop Summit Team, where she helped guide the nation’s top high school seniors in international competition.
“The St. James offers a great opportunity for me,” said Dudley, considering why she decided to take the new position. “It was super attractive. It is going to be high-level with an outstanding academic model. We are going to be able to attract a select group of kids and it is right here in the backyard. The plan is to build the St. James into a national program.”
Stephen Turner Heads to Montverde Academy
The Montverde Academy boys’ basketball team is widely regarded as one of the top high school basketball programs in the United States and boasts alums like NBA stars like Ben Simmons, Joel Embiid and Cooper Flagg, this year’s NCAA Player of the Year as a freshman
The task to continue the success at the program rests on the capable shoulders of Stephen Turner.
One of the most respected high school coaches in America, Turner, during his career as head coach at Gonzaga College High School in Northwest Washington, won almost 500 games, winning numerous WCAC and DCSAA championships and coach of the year awards.
Several of Turner’s players earned All-Met honors and went on to have outstanding careers at some of the top college basketball programs in the country. One of Turner’s former student-athletes, Kris Jenkins, will forever be remembered for the game-winning shot in the 2016 NCAA Championship game that gave Villanova the national championship title over University of North Carolina.
“Turner’s deep appreciation for the value of a college preparatory school environment and his commitment to nurturing student-athletes makes him a perfect fit for Montverde Academy,” Montverde Head of School Jon Hopman said in a statement. “Coach Turner is what we call a transformational coach and mentor — one that will have a positive influence on his players and the broader school community.”
Under Turner, the Gonzaga Eagles won the DCSAA title and ranked No. 2 in the area and No. 11 in the country. Now he is looking forward to taking his expertise to the Montverde Eagles in Florida and recruiting students from the Washington metropolitan area along the way.
“What you find is that the DMV is an attractive place in basketball, whether it is players or coaches,” explained Turner, who was hired recently to take over the program. “I see this as an opportunity to bring in kids from all over the country. I now have a chance to recruit from a larger pool. It makes a lot of sense to bring in coaches who have had consistent success at a high level.”
Excellent read. The DMV has long been represented on the national scene with a growing number of players and coaches gaining greater recognition and opportunities.