With the NCAA men’s basketball tournament set to get underway in earnest on Thursday afternoon, we asked some of the D.C. area’s top high school athletes for their Final Four picks. Here’s what they said:

DeMatha senior Cody Albrecht

All-Met fall soccer Player of the Year has signed with St. John’s

FINAL FOUR: St. John’s(“St. John’s is playing pretty good leading up to the tournament so hopefully a few early wins and they keep momentum going into the Final Four.”), Connecticut, Ohio State, Kansas

CHAMPION: Kansas (“Kansas has the best all-around team to me, with the Morris twins and a DeMatha kid in Josh Selby, they can make it.”)

Annandale senior D’Angelo Boyce

Second-leading scorer for the Atoms, the AAA Northern Region runner-up.

FINAL FOUR: Ohio State, Connecticut, Kansas, Michigan State

CHAMPION: Ohio State

Ballou senior Lamonte Clark

All-Met lineman who has signed with Kansas State

FINAL FOUR: Georgetown (“Because I don’t want to hurt anybody around here”), North Carolina, Connecticut, Kansas State (“You know I can’t go away from my boys”)

CHAMPION: Connecticut (“Who’s that guy, Kemba Walker? That guy’s ridiculous.”)

Oakton juniors Caroline and Katherine Coyer

Twin sisters are basketball and soccer standouts for the Cougars

FINAL FOUR: Ohio State, Connecticut, Pittsburgh, Purdue

CAROLINE’S CHAMPION: Connecticut (“They’ve been doing very well all year and they have Kemba Walker. He’s really dirty.”)

KATHERINE’S CHAMPION: Ohio State (“Just to not pick what Caroline picked, and because Jared Sullinger is good.”)

Herndon senior Austin Hamilton

Hornets’ leading scorer was named Northern Region player of the year

FINAL FOUR: Duke, Syracuse, Pittsburgh, Kansas

CHAMPION: Duke (“With the way Nolan is playing right now and how well they shoot the ball, I think they have a good chance. Plus Kyrie might be coming back, too.”

DeMatha senior Lester Hayes

All-Met soccer player also was part of Stags’ basketball team

FINAL FOUR: Syracuse, Kansas, Pittsburgh, BYU

CHAMPION: Kansas

Gonzaga sophomore Kris Jenkins

6-foot-6 forward who is leading the No. 5 Eagles’ basketball team in scoring (13.7 ppg)

FINAL FOUR: Ohio State, Duke, Kansas, Pittsburgh

CHAMPION: Kansas

Potomac Falls senior Lukas Mihailovich (TRACY A WOODWARD - THE WASHINGTON POST) Potomac Falls senior Lukas Mihailovich

6-foot guard led the No. 12 Panthers to back-to-back Virginia AA Division 4 basketball titles

FINAL FOUR: North Carolina, Texas, Kansas, Pittsburgh

CHAMPION: Kansas (“I’ve got Kansas winning it all because they are the most consistent team in the field and teams don’t have two bigs that can hang with the Morris twins.”)

Glenelg junior Alyssa Parker

Guard on the Gladiator’s 18th-ranked girls’ basketball team, All-Met Player of the Year in field hockey

FINAL FOUR: Ohio State, San Diego State, Kansas, St. John’s

CHAMPION: San Diego State (“I’m thinking everyone is going to underestimate them.”)

Good Counsel junior Faith Randolph

Led No. 4 Falcons, a WCAC girls’ basketball finalist, in scoring

FINAL FOUR: Duke, Syracuse, Kansas, Pittsburgh

CHAMPION: Kansas (“I think Kansas has very talented guards and post players that can defend and rebound as well as score inside and hit jump shots.”)

St. John’s junior Mooriah Rowser

5-foot-9 guard was the leading scorer for the No. 2 Cadets, the City Title winners

FINAL FOUR: Syracuse, Duke, Kansas, St. John’s
St. John's junior Mooriah Rowser (Toni L. Sandys - WASHINGTON POST)

CHAMPION: Duke (“Even though Duke isn’t my favorite team, I believe they have the most experience, from being in the championship last year and in Coach K, plus with their ‘in your face’ defense and poised offense, I feel a repeat coming.”)

Poolesville senior Paige Sekerak

All-Met libero for the Poolesville volleyball team

FINAL FOUR: Kansas, Wisconsin, Texas, Ohio State

CHAMPION: Kansas (“They’ve had successful teams in the past and they’ve been good in the tournament, so I’m going to count on that.”)

Lake Braddock senior Kenny Towns

Honorable mention All-Met infielder as a junior; also pitches for the Bruins

FINAL FOUR: Ohio State, Duke, Kansas, Kansas State

CHAMPION: Kansas (“I picked Kansas to win because they’ve come up a bit short in the NCAA tourney the last couple of years so I think they are really going to play well this year and win it all.”

Paul VI sophomore Marlena Tremba

Panthers’ guard was one of the area’s top free throw shooters

FINAL FOUR: Duke, Kansas, North Carolina, BYU

CHAMPION: Duke (“I think Duke will win the championship with its combination of leadership, strong teamwork and good defense.”)

North Stafford senior Justin Tribble

Won Virginia AAA wrestling title at 215 pounds to finish season with 63-0 record.

FINAL FOUR: North Carolina, Duke, Kansas, Pittsburgh

CHAMPION: Pittsburgh (“The Big East is the basketball powerhouse.”)

Yorktown freshman Mikayla Venson

Guard was the Patriot’s leading scorer (14.3 ppg) as a freshman

FINAL FOUR: North Carolina, Duke, Pittsburgh, Kansas

CHAMPION: Duke (“They have Nolan Smith and I think he is one of the best in college basketball and overall they’ve been a strong team.”)

Oakland Mills senior Greg Whittington

Standout forward for the No. 14 Scorpions recently committed to Georgetown

Oakland Mills senior Greg Whittington (Toni L. Sandys) FINAL FOUR: Duke, Kentucky, Georgetown, Wisconsin

CHAMPION: Georgetown (“That’s the winner winner, chicken dinner.”)

Riverdale Baptist senior Tyonna Williams

Temple recruit was the top scorer on The Post’s No. 1 girls’ basketball team

FINAL FOUR: St. John’s, Connecticut, Ohio State, Kansas

CHAMPION: St. John’s (“I think St. John’s will win because they’ve been a sleeper team all season and have knocked off some of the best teams in college basketball. They’re a team to be reckoned with!”