Boys basketball: Dream matchup benched By CRAIG ANDERSON, Staff Writer Annapolis boys' basketball coach John Brady has pulled his team out of a game with Archbishop Spalding this winter, citing his opposition to private school teams who add public school transfers as the reason. Rudy Gay, a 6-foot-6 Division I prospect from Baltimore, recently transferred to Spalding from public school Eastern Tech, which made Brady decide not to play the highly-anticipated matchup scheduled for Feb. 3, 2003. "I don't agree that once someone starts at a public school they can transfer and play at a private school," Brady said. "That's the reason we're not playing. I don't want to make a big deal about it. That's just the way it is." Spalding coach Mike Glick said he was disappointed with Brady's decision, but declined further comment. Spalding athletic director Lee Dove said he was surprised with Brady's timing. The programs agreed late last spring to play in 2002-03, citing the interest from fans and players the game would draw. After trading telephone messages from Brady at his school office, Dove finally got word from the coach that Annapolis was withdrawing from the game. "John told me he was inclined not to play the game in light of (Gay's) transfer," Dove said. "I told him that we agreed to play the game before we added him, and still wanted to play the game now. "If it were me I certainly wouldn't be cancelling, but I can't speak for John." All-county Annapolis center Josh Johnson said recently that he looked forward to the opportunity of playing against Gay and the rest of Spalding's team. The Panthers are expected to be this year's county public school team to beat, with Johnson and returning player of the year Laronja Owens leading the way. "Our players wanted the game and will be disappointed, but I'm the adult who is making decisions on what's best for the basketball program at Annapolis," Brady said. Gay averaged 19.2 points and 9.7 rebounds as a sophomore at Eastern, and has already received a scholarship offer from Connecticut. Defending national champion Maryland is also hot on his trail, and has received a verbal commitment from 7-foot Spalding senior center Will Bowers. Both schools' administrators said they were looking for games to fill out their schedule. Published October 02, 2002, The Capital, Annapolis, Md. Copyright © 2002 The Capital, Annapolis, Md.