As we prepared this year’s Best Of issue, I decided to take a look back at some past Best Of issues.
In looking back on what I like to call our “local sports yearbooks,” I was provided a reminder of how quickly things can change.
Our 2022 Mo Gaba Sportsperson of the Year was Adley Rutschman. In 2023 it was Brandon Hyde. They were both strong choices! Rutschman provided hope to a downtrodden fan base and a franchise that appeared to be turning a corner. Hyde guided a team with minimal expectations to 101 wins! But less than three years later, one is no longer a part of the franchise and we have no idea if the other can still be a central figure to the franchise.
It’s not just that things change quickly because they don’t look as favorable in following years. Things can change quickly because sometimes our winner is someone we wouldn’t have expected at all going into that year.
Our first Sportsperson of the Year (Maryland men’s lacrosse coach John Tillman in 2017) snapped a 42-year title drought. Since then, he has five more Final Four appearances and another national title. We could have never seen our 2018 co-honorees (UMBC men’s basketball coach Ryan Odom and guard Jairus Lyles) shocking the world when they were getting blown out at home by Vermont just weeks before the monumental Virginia upset.
I was thinking about how quickly things might change for 2026. I thought I’d have some fun and try to set some odds for who might be our top honoree next year.
I figure the co-favorites have to be Lamar Jackson and Gunnar Henderson, so I’ll install them both at 4-1. Jackson has won before (which hurts his odds a bit), but you never know when he might do something we’ve never seen before … again. And if Henderson returns to the MVP conversation (or maybe signs a contract extension?), he’d be an obvious choice. They have to be the favorites.
My next contenders include Craig Albernaz (6-1), Jackson Holliday (8-1) and Kyle Bradish (10-1). If the Orioles indeed bounce back strongly, Albernaz will be in the American League Manager of the Year debate. Holliday might put it all together this year. If Bradish can pitch a full season, he could be a legitimate ace for a contending team.
After that, I have three more contenders all at 12-1. I’ll start with Brenda Frese, whose team is off to an awesome start and may well have Final Four potential. Her remarkable consistency across two-plus decades would make her a tremendous choice if the Terps make a deep run.
I think I’d go with Zay Flowers next. If the Ravens’ offense takes a different shape with him in a more prominent role next year, he would be a strong contender. And I’ll put Rutschman in this group again. Should he return to form, that would be the type of major story that could overcome his having been recognized before.
And then I’d have a group of dark horses. Samuel Basallo (15-1) could become a serious middle-of-the-order bat and would have the benefit of having already signed an extension. Nate Wiggins (20-1) is someone who appears to be on the verge of stardom and could wind up garnering consideration.
Maryland quarterback Malik Washington (25-1) showed a lot as a freshman. If the Terps can run the ball even a little bit and Washington takes a reasonable step forward, they could have a solid season next year and Washington could be in the mix. I’ll make Navy quarterback Braxton Woodson 28-1 as well after he shined in his relief effort win against South Florida in November.
I struggled with how to consider odds for Towson men’s basketball coach Pat Skerry and star wing Tyler Tejada. They have the chance to break a 35-year NCAA Tournament drought for the Tigers. If they get in, they won’t likely be a No. 16 seed, giving them a little better chance to pull off a memorable NCAA Tournament upset. I’ll set Skerry’s odds at 30-1 and Tejada’s at 32-1 because even if they do, it would be hard to compete with an MVP-type season from someone else on this list.
And I’ll complete the board by setting Mike Elias at 50-1. He has made a few moves already with more moves expected. If those moves work out, he’ll be front of mind. It’s just hard for anyone in a front office to beat out those more directly involved in the games themselves.
And if you let me buy one ticket here, I think Bradish might be the one I’d want to hold.
Photo Credits: Kenya Allen and Colin Murphy/PressBox
Issue 296: December 2025 / January 2026
Originally published Dec. 17, 2025