Boys Basketball
G.J. Kissal ’91 took over as boys basketball coach at Our Lady of Good Counsel in 2016 with the goal of restoring the program’s former success. In 2022-23, the Falcons made significant progress, achieving a ranking as high as 12th by The Washington Post and twice earning victories over No. 2 teams.
In addition to its wins over nationally ranked St. John’s and Gonzaga, Good Counsel won the Xaverian Classic and the Champion Durham Classic. The Falcons also qualified for the inaugural Maryland Private School State Basketball Tournament.
Roster
Varsity Boys Basketball Schedule
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JV Boys Basketball Schedule
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Freshman Boys Basketball Schedule
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Coach G.J. Kissal bio continued...
Good Counsel finished 18-13 for its third consecutive winning season. Jordan Brathwaite was named second-team All-Washington Catholic Athletic Conference.
Under Kissal’s leadership, the Falcons had their first winning season in 10 years in 2019-20, finishing 19-12 and 12-8 in the WCAC. They defeated the Post’s No. 1 team for the first time in 20 years, and Bez Mbeng was named first-team All-WCAC.
Antoine Jacks, in the shortened 2020-21 season, became Good Counsel’s first player in 10 years to receive a Division I basketball scholarship when he accepted an offer to attend Fairleigh Dickinson University. In 2021-22, the Falcons were 14-11 (7-8 WCAC), and Dylan Williamson was named honorable mention All-Met and first-team All-WCAC.
Prior to coaching at his alma mater, Kissal had a successful four-year (2012-16) head-coaching run at Clarksburg (Md.) High School, leading the Coyotes to the first two sectional championships and regional finals (2014, ’16) in school history.
He began his coaching career at Good Counsel in 1995 as an assistant JV coach under the school’s current athletic director, Steve Howes. He later coached varsity basketball with Joe McCall and helped the Falcons soar to No. 1 in 1998-99 and finish with a school-record 29 victories.
Kissal played varsity basketball for Good Counsel as a senior in 1990-91 and one year at Allentown (Pa.) College. He transferred to the University of Maryland and, in 2001, earned a bachelor of science degree in kinesiology. He added a master’s degree in education with a science specialty from George Washington University in 2007. He hosts a basketball camp each summer and teaches science at Good Counsel.
Kissal’s father, Basil, was a Greek Orthodox priest and served as athletic director and head basketball coach at Hellenic College in Brookline, Mass., From 1970-75, he worked in marketing and promotions for the Boston Celtics. Kissal and his wife, Sherry, live in Derwood, Md., with their daughter, Alexandra, and son, Vasili.