In looking back at the most remarkable two weeks of their basketball careers, Mount Carmel hoopsters Junior Mancho and Ralfs Rudusans are flooded with all the instances of pure joy.
There were the quality performances each put in as the Cougars swept the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference championship and Baltimore Catholic League tournament championships in consecutive weekends last year.
The on-court festivities with teammates, trophies and photos were priceless. The locker room celebrations featured endless smiles.
But perhaps most satisfying for both, Mancho, now a junior center from Cameroon, and Rudusans, a senior forward from Latvia, came when they got their phones out to share the happy news with their families back home.
“It was a great night for my family and myself,” said Rudusans, referring to when the Cougars won the BCL to complete the title sweep. “It’s something my parents had never seen in their lives before, their son winning two championships in one year in America. It’s a night my family and me will never forget.”
Mancho, in his thick Cameroonian accent that has warmed the tiny Essex private school, enjoyed the same proud experience.
“I called home and my mom was so happy and my dad was so happy and everybody was congratulating me. That was so awesome. I didn’t sleep that night,” he said.
Throughout his long and successful high school coaching career, Mount Carmel coach Tony Martin has enjoyed a knack for finding and developing international players, with Cameroon proving a hotspot. The initial connection came through his relationship with former Georgetown coach Craig Esherick.
While at Spalding, he brought in Max Yokomo in 1996 and during his time at John Carroll, brothers Mike, Lionel and Christian Owona came to the program in 2009. They all enjoyed fine careers.
Mancho and Rudusans, both 18, are the latest international players to bring their own unique qualities to the Cougars.
“It’s unimaginable how much those two have helped these kids that, these days, are in the showcase, event, get the great writeup era where it’s all about the individual,” Martin said. “So whether it’s Ralfs’ team play which is the showcase for European players — team ball — or it’s Junior’s selfless work ethic to do all the little things on the court that many players don’t want to do, they fit right into our team and fill in every gap that’s missing.”
With the home stretch of this regular season fast approaching, the No. 3 Cougars are 19-5 with a lofty goal set to match last year’s sweep of league titles.
Both Mancho, a 6-foot-9, and Rudusans, 6-foot-8, have carved out invaluable roles to keep the wins coming for the deep Cougars.
Related Articles
-
Crofton boys, Broadneck girls win Anne Arundel indoor track and field championships -
Magnolia Middle students subject to racist comments, Harford mom says -
Capital Gazette 2025 boys cross country All-County: AACS’ Jack Nebbia named Runner of Year -
Capital Gazette 2025 boys cross country All-County team -
No. 10 Spading boys basketball responds with 72-62 win at No. 6 Glenelg Country
In his three varsity seasons, Mancho immediately established himself as a forceful defender and rebounder, while his offensive game has steadily improved. This season, he’s averaging nine points and five rebounds and has grown into a vocal leader.
“First coming here, I didn’t see myself as much of an offensive player because I was kind of a shy guy, so I didn’t want to commit mistakes that would hurt my team,” he said. “So I focused more on the defensive end and try to be the loudest on the court. My confidence has built up and now I’m able to contribute to the offensive part of the game. So the confidence I already had on defense is now translating to the offensive part.”
Rudusans, a Lehigh commit who also is in his third varsity season, brings selfless team play that depicts how the Europeans play the game. A quality perimeter shooter and fine passer, he brings a natural flow and consistently makes the correct basketball play.
In last year’s 55-50 win over St. Frances to bring home the program’s first MIAA A championship, Rudusans scored 17 points to be named the game’s Most Valuable Player.
“It was obviously exciting and amazing because I’ve never done this in my life — I never won a trophy before in the United States,” he said. “Personally, I played well because I was relaxed. I wasn’t thinking too much, just out there doing my thing.”
Having started playing basketball when he was 6 years old — both his parents also played the game — Rudusans always wanted the chance to play in the United States to challenge himself and improve his game.
“Competition-wise, I came to a great place, obviously Baltimore, DMV, you can see the talent here is huge and you can get better every day, especially with the team we have,” he said. “We compete hard every day in practice and just get better and better. And if you look at the leagues we play in, every game is tough, there’s no blowouts.”
Mancho misses his family, including his mom’s delicious pork chops and macaroni and cheese. But the opportunity to play basketball at a higher level, get a fine education, build new relationships and enjoy travel has been a blessing. It’s on full display every day. Martin calls him the most joyful kid he’s ever coached.
“Most of us have known each other for three years now and we just go out there and have fun,” Mancho said.
Senior power forward Gage Howard appreciates his foreign teammates.
“They’re just great teammates. Junior brings a high motor, a leader, a great communicator and Ralfs is like a Swiss army knife who just does everything for us,” he said.
The international flavor on the team doesn’t stop with Mancho and Rudusans as Canadian-born senior guard Harmony Okojie has also begun to thrive in a reserve role.
The three have brought a special element to not only the team, but the entire school.
“We just click and it’s not something you think about — we just became friends really quick,” Rudusans said. “We’re not from here and we’ve seen things and life differently than American kids, so I think it’s something do with that.”
While Mancho is still weighing college options with a dream of becoming a civil engineer, Rudusans was able to make another special phone call back home.
“During the summer, I was in Latvia spending time with family before I came back for my senior year. We had a talk and, honestly, we didn’t believe I would get an offer to play Division I basketball,” he said. “But it happened. It’s a miracle and when I called my dad when I got the [Lehigh] offer, he was so excited and really happy for me. It was almost the same feeling when won the championships.”
Have a news tip? Contact Glenn Graham at ggraham@baltsun.com, 410-332-6636 and x.com/GlennGrahamSun.
Show Caption1 of 4Mount Carmel High’s international basketball players Junior Mancho, left, of Cameroon, and Ralfs Rudusans, left, of Latvia. (Kenneth K. Lam/Staff)
Expand
