DeMatha Catholic High School has a rich tradition of producing top tier athletes in many different sports. Here are some of the notable athletes who had outstanding pro and college careers while bearing the title of DeMatha Alumni:
1. Adrian Dantley (Basketball)
Dantley had a great high school career while at DeMatha playing for the great Coach Morgan Wootten, before gaining an athletic scholarship to play basketball at Notre Dame.
While at Notre Dame, Dantley earned first team all-American honors from 1974 through 1976. He finished his college career with 2,223 points and was second on Notre Dame’s all-time scoring list.
His solid college career ultimately led Dantley to not only make the NBA, but strive and succeed in the NBA. While in the NBA, Dantley became a 6-time All-Star while winning scoring champion of the league in 1981 and 1984, which was not an easy accomplishment with superstars like Micheal Jordan, Larry Bird, and Magic Johnson playing at the same time.
2. Brian Westbrook (Football)
Westbrook’s career here at DeMatha was a successful one accolades-wise. He earned first team all-WCAC, first team all-Prince George’s County, and honorable mention all-state. After his accolade-packed career at DeMatha, Westbrook earned a football scholarship to continue his academic and athletic career at Villanova University.
While at Villanova, Westbrook was a force to be reckoned with. In 46 games, Westbrook tallied 84 touchdowns, carrying the ball 725 times and racking up 4,298 yards. With those stats, Westbrook was a 2-time Atlantic 10 Player of the Year and was the 2001 Walter Payton Award winner.
After a terrific college career, Westbrook was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles. Westbrook became the Eagles main running back and was known for his versatility. He was equally dangerous as a rusher and a receiver, and was a heavy factor in the Eagles’ offense during their most successful years.
3. Paul Rabil (Lacrosse)
Rabil is a major name in the lacrosse community, but before he became a legend he was a Stag lacrosse player. While with the Stags, Rabil led his squad to three WCAC championships while scoring 288 total career points, including 80 goals and 73 assists coming in his final two seasons as a Stag.
As Rabil’s high school career was coming to an end, he decided to continue his lacrosse story at John Hopkins University. As an athlete at John Hopkins, Rabil accounted for two NCAA D1 lacrosse titles, 75 total goals, and 53 assists. He was named an all-American four times!
Rabil didn’t stop at the collegiate level, going on to play in the MLL (Major League Lacrosse). He quickly became one of the best players in the league, playing with the Boston Cannons and New York Lizards. Rabil was named MVP of the league twice and helped the Cannons win their first MLL title while scoring 4 goals in the championship and earning game MVP.
In 2018, Paul and his brother Mike co-founded the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) in an effort to boost the sport of lacrosse and create a new league for professional athletes to play in after college.
4. Chase Young (Football)
Young was a man amongst boys while playing for the Stags. He was a dominant edge rusher who would terrorize the opposing teams’ quarterbacks. As a senior in 2016, Young dominated, leading the Stags to an undefeated season and the second of back-to-back WCAC titles, all while recording 19 sacks, 118 tackles, and 5 forced fumbles. Young was also named an Under Armour all-American.
After his tear at DeMatha, Young had an offer from just about every school in America. He ultimately chose The Ohio State University. During his 3-year career as a Buckeye, Young recorded 99 tackles, 30.5 sacks, and 9 forced fumbles. Young also was named to the Big Ten’s all-decade team.
Young was then drafted by his hometown Washington Commanders with the 2nd overall pick in 2020. Before suffering an injury, Young won Defensive Rookie of the Year with the then-Washington Football Team before being traded to the 49ers. He is now playing for the New Orleans Saints.
5. Markelle Fultz (Basketball)
Fultz’s rise wasn’t a traditional one. He didn’t stand out early in his high school career, being cut from DeMatha’s varsity team as a sophomore due to his raw talent and physical development still catching up. During Fultz’s senior year, he averaged 19.1 point, 8.8 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game. Those stats helped Fultz campaign for the WCAC Player of the Year award.
As a reward of all Fultz’s hard work and dedication, he was ranked a top player in his class and was chosen to be a McDonald’s all-American. After his amazing high school career, Fultz decided to spend a year at the University of Washington before entering the NBA draft as a one-and-done. As a Husky, Fultz averaged an outstanding 23.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game. Those numbers helped Fultz earn first team all-conference and third team all-American honors.
In 2017, Fultz was drafted 1st overall by the Philadelphia 76ers to play alongside stars like Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons. Sadly, Fultz’s NBA journey took an unexpected turn almost immediately after his arrival in Philadelphia. A mysterious shoulder injury affected his shooting form, leading to struggles on the court and limited playing time. He is now on the Orlando Magic.
