Mount St. Joseph senior point guard Eric Atkins, a four-year starter who has led the No. 2 Gaels to a 28-3 season, was named the Baltimore Catholic League's Player of the Year for a second straight season at the league's 39th annual luncheon Tuesday afternoon at Snyder's Restaurant in Linthicum Heights.

Atkins, who is set to play at Notre Dame, is averaging 15 points, four assists, four rebounds and two steals this season.

"It just feels great to be mentioned with all the great players of the past from the BCL. ... There's so many players, it's an honor to be included," Atkins said. "The BCL is the best league in the country to me. I didn't play in any other league, but from what I hear, this is the best league and every game is a tough game."

Mount St. Joseph coach Pat Clatchey was selected as the BCL Coach of the Year for the eighth time. The 18-year coach, who has 427 career wins at Mount St. Joseph, guided the Gaels to their sixth regular-season championship since 2003. The team takes an 11-0 mark into tonight's game against No. 4 Calvert Hall and has already assured itself the top seed in this weekend's BCL playoffs. The Gaels have won three BCL tournament championships under Clatchey.

"It's nice to be recognized, but I didn't play one second in any of the games, so I consider this a team award -- your staff contributes greatly and your players," Clatchey said. "I've always felt very proud and fortunate to feel part of the BCL. I grew up watching the league, and an opportunity to coach in the BCL has been a great experience."

Calvert Hall senior forward Donya Jackson has long been known for his hard work containing opposing teams' top scoring threats and he was chosen the BCL's Defensive Player of the Year for a second straight season.

Below are the 2009-10 All-BCL teams selected by the league's coaches:

First Team
Atkins, Mount St. Joseph, Senior
Ryley Beaumont, Mount St. Joseph, Senior
Jonathan Graham, Calvert Hall, Senior
Dylon Cormier, Cardinal Gibbons, Senior
Damion Lee, Calvert Hall, Senior
Wayne Sparrow, St. Frances, Senior

Second Team
Dante Holmes, St. Frances, Senior
Matt Miller, Mount St. Joseph, Senior
Nic Martin, St. Maria Goretti, Senior
Matt Mathias, Loyola, Senior
Gregory Lewis, St. Frances, Junior

Honorable mention -- Donya Jackson, Calvert Hall; Erik Fisher, Cardinal Gibbons; Connor McRoy, Archbishop Spalding; R.J. Williams, St. Frances; Mike Fitzpatrick, Loyola.

'Never, Never Quit' Awards -- Jeff Janosek, Archbishop Spalding; Sean Wise, Calvert Hall; Brooks Healy, Cardinal Gibbons; Emmett Cahill, Loyola; Matt Miller, Mount St. Joseph; Jason Jones Jr., St. Frances; Jay Donoghue, St. Maria Goretti.

-- Glenn Graham