Odds were stacked against Mount St. Joseph’s Eric Atkins this season.

The junior point guard and three-star player was faced with the prospect of playing without ex-MSJ center and Georgetown freshman Henry Sims. A few notable injuries and transfers before the season made things more challenging for the 6-foot-1, 170-pounder.

But according to Gaels head coach Pat Clatchey, Atkins met those challenges and probably surpassed expectations. Atkins was named Baltimore Catholic League Player of the Year, averaging more than 23 points per game and leading the Gaels to a 21-13 record.

“We literally lost five guys that could’ve been on our roster (to injury or transfer) that are pretty darn good players. [Eric] carried the major load for us,” Clatchey said. “He basically played every second of every game. ... He really just shouldered the scoring load despite being the defensive target every game. I think the circumstances led him to really broaden his horizons and become a more complete player than he was.”

Atkins, who averaged about 14 points per game as a sophomore, was the sixth Gael in the last eight years to win BCL Player of the Year. He’s hearing from many of the same schools that recruited him before the season, in addition to a couple notable newcomers.

“Basically Notre Dame, Villanova, Virginia, Vanderbilt and UMass [are recruiting him],” Clatchey said. “And recently Florida has expressed some interest.”

Clatchey said Atkins is interested in each of those schools and doesn’t appear to be in a huge rush to make his decision.

“I don’t think he has a timetable,” Clatchey said. “I know a lot of the recruiting starts early. It seems like everyone always bumps [their recruiting] up a year earlier now. Kids are making commitments sooner and sooner. I think he really wants to evaluate the situation and just take his time and make the best decision for him and his future. When that situation comes to him, I think that’s when he’ll make his choice.”

Atkins isn’t the only MSJ junior with a Division I future. Forward Ryley Beaumont, 6-6, was named to the BCL’s second team after averaging about 14 points per game. Clatchey said Beaumont has an offer from Loyola and “probably four or five” others.

“I think Ryley had a terrific season,” Clatchey said. “He missed probably about 85 or 90 percent of his sophomore season with a broken hand. ... I think he’s a guy with a lot of upside potential. He’s 6-6 and has guard skills and fundamentals. He can score in a variety of ways. I think really the next step for him is to really just become a better overall defensive player. ... He’s got a chance to be a really good college player.”

Credit: Sun photos of Atkins (Jan. 23, 2009) and Beaumont (Feb. 13, 2009) by Gene Sweeney Jr.