Former National Christian Star Stands Out

Perhaps the most impressive player this past weekend at Maryland's Comcast Center was Lake Clifton forward Will Barton. The 6-6 junior, who played last season at National Christian, led Lake Clifton to two routs and the Maryland 3A championship. Barton showed the ability to handle the ball, get to the basket and score from the outside, all while showing plenty of court savvy.

Barton said he has yet to narrow his college choices, holding scholarship offers from Maryland, Georgetown, Kentucky, Indiana, Pittsburgh, Villanova, Marquette, Memphis, Tennessee, Florida, South Florida and others.

"There are a lot of schools right now trying to get in," Barton said. "It's a little crazy. Every day an elite program is calling."

Barton played his first two years of high school at City College in Baltimore, then attended National Christian last year. That means that while he is a junior academically, he won't be eligible to play next year at Lake Clifton and will head to a prep school, though he is unsure which one.

Barton said he has attended a game at Virginia and been to Maryland "a lot." He plans to take college visits this spring and summer and said that he could reach a college decision at any time. "Whenever it happens, it happens," he said. "It could happen tomorrow."