Each week and for the duration of the season, The Washington Informer will feature our choices for the top five high school basketball programs in the greater Washington area, specifically the District of Columbia State Athletic Association (DCSAA) and Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC), for their efforts based upon win/loss record, strength of schedule and winning streak:
1. Wilson (33-9) (DCSAA)
After dropping Theodore Roosevelt 71-59 to win the DCIAA championship on Feb. 21, the Tigers went on to defeat private school powerhouse St. John’s (Washington, D.C.) 66-64 in a double-overtime thriller on March 3 to win the DCSAA championship as well.
Four Tigers scored in double figures, with senior point guard Ayinde Hikim leading the charge with 21 points.
Wilson junior guard Jay Heath Jr., senior guard Ricardo Lindo, and sophomore small forward Dimingus Stevens all averaged over 13 points per game during the regular season, making Wilson unquestionably the best high school basketball squad in the district.
2. Theodore Roosevelt (29-8) (DCSAA)
Wilson narrowly slipped past Theodore Roosevelt 80-78 on Feb. 28 during the DCSAA quarterfinal match. The Roughriders also fell to Wilson in the DCIAA championship this year, but 29 wins is nothing to scoff at, and it was a successful season nonetheless.
3. DeMatha (26-5) (WCAC)
The Stags are on a roll after defeating Gonzaga 54-53 in the WCAC championship game on Feb. 26.
Sophomore guard Earl Timberlake led the Stags with 14 points while junior guard Justin Moore and sophomore center Hunter Dickinson combined for 23 points. DeMatha is now riding a six-game win streak and is currently competing in the 2018 Maryland Private School Championship.
4. Gonzaga (27-8) (WCAC)
Despite losing to the Stags in the WCAC championship game and to Wilson 66-63 in the DCSAA semifinal on Feb. 1, the Eagles put together a solid season.
Sophomore forward Terrance Williams averaged more than 16 points per game while senior forward Myles Dread pitched in more than 14 points per contest.
5. Friendship Tech Prep Academy (26-4) (DCSAA)
The Titans fell to Maret (Washington, D.C) in the DCSAA quarterfinal match 70-59 on Feb. 28. Senior guard Malik Miller led the way with 28 points while senior guard Kenneth Tyree and freshman combo guard RaSheed Dupree both scored 15 points.
The Washington Informer Top 5 is strictly based upon the opinions of The Informer sports division.