After last year's 15-17 campaign, Calvert Hall boys basketball coach John Bauersfeld expected significant improvement from his team.

But even the second-year head coach was surprised by just how much the Cardinals improved this season.

“I didn’t think we’d get 30 wins,” Bauersfeld admitted.

Calvert Hall finished 30-7, getting to the semifinals of the Baltimore Catholic League tournament and falling to St. Frances in the MIAA A conference title game. For leading the Cardinals' dramatic turnaround, Bauersfeld was named BCL Coach of the Year.

“I think we gelled as a unit really well,” Bauersfeld said. “We played exceptional defense, especially in the second half of the season. That really led us to some key victories.”

The Cardinals were led by junior power forward Jonathan Graham. The 6-foot-8, 220-pounder averaged 15 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks per game this season.

“I think he grew a lot as a player,” Bauersfeld said. “I think he matured a lot, especially number one, as a leader on the team, and as a guy who, when we needed a bucket, we could go to him. Defensively he became a better player as well. He still has work to do, but he got a lot better this year.”

Graham, a four-star prospect and the No. 77 junior in the country according to Rivals.com, has a lengthy list of schools following his progress.

“Villanova has been in strong contact with him,” Bauersfeld said. “I know I’ve had contact with West Virginia, Florida State, Providence, George Mason, Richmond. He’s got a lot of interest. It gets real crazy in the summer. ... I would say [Graham’s recruiting interest] picked up from the fall and it’ll continue to increase as well.”

While Graham stifled opponents down low, small forward Donya Jackson locked down the wing. The 6-foot-3 junior earned BCL Defensive Player of the Year honors. With the exception of Mount St. Joseph point guard Eric Atkins, Jackson always drew the toughest defensive assignment for Calvert Hall.

“He just never stops,” Bauersfeld said. “The key to defense is constantly moving your feet and being relentless. He is relentless on the defensive end. He just has that attitude.

“He really improved a ton over the course of the season. He just became a very reliable scorer for us. He scored, I think, 11 a game. He’s a slasher, but he can also knock down jump shots.”

St. Francis (Pa.), Loyola, Mount St. Mary’s and Navy have all expressed interest in Jackson, according to Bauersfeld.

Shooting guard Damion Lee has heard from Richmond, Holy Cross, American, Loyola, Mount St. Mary’s and Navy after the 6-foot-4 junior and second-team BCL selection averaged about 10 points per game.

“He had a great year,” Bauersfeld said. “He’s just a great slasher, and he really became a good defensive player for us. He can knock down open jump shots as well. He just has a really good sense of the game; a real good feel for the game.”

Junior Kyle Wise also stood out for the Cardinals, earning honorable mention honors from the BCL. An “absolute true point guard,” Wise averaged better than five assists per game and played lock-down defense, according to Bauersfeld. An impressive showing at the Alhambra Catholic Invitational piqued the interest of a couple Div. I schools.

“William & Mary just expressed some interest in him,” Bauersfeld said. “George Mason just sent some literature to us about Kyle as well.”

With Graham, Jackson, Lee and Wise all returning for their senior seasons next year, Calvert Hall will be expected to contend for the BCL and MIAA A conference crowns. Bauersfeld said his team will be up for the challenge.

“I think obviously we’ll have set some high expectations for ourselves next year to be in contention for the league and to be right there at the end just like we were this year. We’ll just try to get over that hump.”

Baltimore Sun photo by Damion Lee by Gene Sweeney Jr.