All-Metro boys basketball team

Player of the Year

Marcus Hatten,

Mervo

Considered by many to be the area's top senior player, the 6-foot-2 combination guard is one of only two first-team All-Metro repeaters after a colossal season for the 12th-ranked Mustangs (17-6).

Hatten averaged 25.0 points (576 points in 23 games), 9.1 rebounds and, according to coach Woody Williams, an amazing 12.5 assists an outing.

"Marcus is a complete player and does whatever it takes to be successful," said Williams of his four-year starter and leader of a very young team.

"He's our hardest worker in practice and makes the others around him better players."

The flashy Hatten, who can drive to the basket and execute dribble penetration with aplomb or find the hole from the perimeter, had a season-high 35 points in an 83-54 loss to top-ranked Dunbar (24-3).

Hatten hit the 30-point mark seven times, including 33 points in a 70-58 loss to fourth-ranked Lake Clifton (18-6), the Class 4A state champion.

In his final two seasons, Hatten averaged 24 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds for the Mustangs.

Hatten was a two-time All-Baltimore City/County first-team pick.

Such colleges as American, Richmond, Temple and Virginia Commonwealth are interested in Hatten.

Marcus Johnson,

Annapolis

A 6-foot-5 junior swingman with the skills of both guard and forward, Johnson led the fifth-ranked Panthers (23-2) in scoring with 410 points in 25 games for an average of 16.0.

Johnson, the son of former Severna Park standout Eric Johnson, also led the Panthers in three-pointers (68), giving him 113 in two seasons and leaving him 17 shy of the school career-record.

Johnson was tied for second in assists (4.2) and was third in rebounds (6.4), leading Annapolis to the Anne Arundel County regular-season title and earning individual All-County honors.

In the Panthers' 73-66 county championship victory over No. 6 Meade (24-3), Johnson had game-high totals of 22 points, three assists and three steals. He also had five rebounds.

A starter since his sophomore year, Johnson will play in Europe this summer to prepare for his senior season.

Anthony Breland,

Oakland Mills

Breland, a 6-foot-5 senior forward, led the Scorpions of coach Dave Appleby to the Class 1A South region title and state final four.

Despite 23 points and 10 rebounds from Breland, Oakland Mills dropped a 53-50 heartbreaker in the state semifinals to eventual champion North Dorchester. In 26 games for the 10th-ranked Scorpions (22-4), the athletic and talented Breland averaged 24.3 points (633 total points), shooting 58.6 percent from the floor.

From three-point range, Breland landed 19 of 40 for a percentage of .475. Breland, who teamed with Murray Graves (20.0) to give the Scorpions a deadly one-two punch, also averaged 7.5 rebounds, three steals and three assists per game.

John Brady of No. 5 Annapolis, whose Panthers played host to the Scorpions in the Cap City Classic during the Christmas holidays, said, "we couldn't stop the guy no matter what we tried."

He has applied to Maine Central Prep.

Dontaz Dean,

Dunbar

A second-team All-Metro pick a year ago, this chiseled 6-7 junior center raised his game to another level this season.

Dean led the top-ranked Poets (24-3) to a repeat Class 2A state title by 79-43 over No. 17 Edgewood (21-5) by scoring 18 points and grabbing eight rebounds.Over 27 games, Dean averaged 15.7 points, 11.3 rebounds, two steals, 5.1 assists and snuffed 5.1 shots per game. He was a 73 percent free-throw shooter as well.

Dean's dominating overall game in the paint enabled the Poets to also capture the Baltimore City championship and not lose a single game to a metro area team.

"He has all the tools to succeed at the next level," said coach Lynn Badham.

Dean has drawn interest from Coppin State, Fairfield, George Washington, Pittsburgh and St. Joseph's of Philadelphia but will attend a prep school.

Keith Jenifer,

Towson Catholic

Smooth and extremely quick, the 6-2 Jenifer is clearly one of the state's top junior guards and players.

In leading the No. 3 Owls (25-6) to the Catholic League regular-season (14-1) title with a 14-1 record, Jenifer averaged 16.5 points, 5.0 assists and 5.4 rebounds.

Named to the All-Catholic League and The Sun's All-Baltimore City/County team, Jenifer is mainly a shooting guard, but played frequently at the point for coach Mike Daniel.

"When it comes to versatility in the backcourt, Keith is one of the best around," said Daniel. "He knows when to score, when to pass and he's a very guard rebounder. Keith is simply a solid all-around player who made our team go."

Jenifer is one of the most recruited players in the metro area, but has one more season left with the Owls.

Tremaine Robinson,

Archbishop Spalding

Known as "Showtime" by his Archbishop Spalding teammates, the 6-foot-3, 200-pound swingman lives up to his nickname.

Robinson's high-flying act reminds fans of Maryland's flashy Steve Francis.