DC-Baltimore Youth Hoops Divide Being Bridged

Ron Bailey, Publisher

September 24, 2008 – There has long been hoops-based competition between Baltimore and Washington, D.C., with each area long claiming roundball superiority. Honestly, both environs are such basketball hotbeds, strong arguments can be made by each faction.

Well, a boys travel team organization from D.C. could be drawing the two regions closer in basketball (though there will always be a gap in music, style, and slang…you know, the ‘important’ stuff. That was just a joke). Enter Baltimore Assault

“We consummated the deal not too long ago” shared DC Assault’s General Manager, Damon Handon, confirming the existence of Baltimore Assault. He later indicated the move was not based on a kuumba-ya effort in which Baltimore and DC hoop heads sit around holding hands singing, as the new franchise was launched in an effort to “expand our brand”.

Mark Karcher (brown) and Nick Myles (black), will continue their Saint Frances working relationship with Baltimore Assaut.

Nevertheless it is the first such organized effort between camps in the two cities. Previously, players from either side of the Parkway might have played on squads from the other, and organization’s have definitely supported each other’s events, but such organized, joint cooperation has been lacking.

Leading Baltimore Assault will be Mark Karcher, former Baltimore legend, Temple University standout, and international league professional. As Director of the new organization, Karcher, the present coach at Baltimore’s East Side Prep prep powerhouse Saint Frances Academy, will oversee the development and functioning of both 16 and 17 and under teams.

Karcher is well positioned for such a pioneering role, having long participated in D.C. area hoops informally – he has previously noted coming to the area in search of good, different competition – and in an organized fashion. “Karcher was one of the first players we had from Baltimore” reminisced Handon, a founding member of DC Assault. “He’s one of our guys”.

Nick Myles, a Saint Frances assistant coach and Baltimore Assault official discussed what motivated Karcher and himself to basically start a travel team organization in a crowded market, as well as their modus operandi: “We are just trying to get kids in college; we are not focused on Saint Frances. The kids there are not going to be required to play. It’s not about that for us”.

The new program will be on display this weekend during Charlie Weber’s Maryland Invitational Tournament. For more information, click here.

Welcome to the scene Baltimore Assault.

Note: Handon also indicated another DC Assault franchise exists, North Carolina Assault. We hope to have more on them later.