6th Annual Preseason 8th Grade CSAL Basketball Rankings

Jamborees have taken place, but the season doesn't tip off until the new year. Here are the preseason rankings and predictions of who will make the Elite 8.


1.St. Thomas More – The battle to cut down the nets in Catholic High’s Gymnasium at the Elite 8 is really a 2 team race this season. STM and St. George split wins in their games last season. Expect either of these teams to win every major tournament and to battle it out in the Elite 8 Championship. STM is led by one of the best players in recent CSAL history. He is a do it all forward who can shoot, rebound and defend.

2.St. George – St. Thomas More gets the #1 ranking partly due to the fact that they have the best player in the league, but St. George does have more depth. Like most SGS teams, these Dragons possess great size and speed. St. George was definitely the program of the decade from 2000-2010. Can they keep it up for this decade? How the Dragons defend the STM Flex Offense could be the determining factor in the potential championship game.

3.Sacred Heart – There is a major drop off between 2 and 3, but the #3 ranking is clearly filled by Sacred Heart. They do not have much depth, but they get up and down the court in a hurry and can cause problems for poor ball handling teams with their ball pressure.

4.Our Lady of Mercy – After the top 3 spots, it really is up for grabs. The once great OLOM program of the early 2000’s has taken a bit of a dip, but is still a perennial Elite 8 team. They can’t compete with SGS and STM this season, but should win some of the lesser tournaments.

5.St. Jude – The cougars, coached by a former LSU great, have one of the best full court presses in the league. They will win games with defense and tenacious rebounding. They have one of the best student sections in the league as well which makes them tough to beat at home.

6.St. Aloysius – The Lions are a consistent bubble team for the Elite 8 most seasons. This year is expected to be the same as any other. They look to grab 1 of 2 at large spots to make the tournament. The Lions changed coaching staffs a few years ago, and the new staff's focus on hustle and defense has really paid off.

7.Holy Family – Holy Family is led by the fearless point guard. Though out of control at times, he is a staunch defender and a solid distributor. Due to the fact that they are undersized, they take a lot of outside shots. They will live and die by the 3. They like to run a 1-2-2 half court trap which could cause trouble for un-expecting teams.

8.CHS – The Baby Bears have had a couple of down seasons, but look to bounce back and make the tournament for the first time in 3 seasons. They have one of the larger front lines in the league. They can rebound and defend, but struggle to score with elite teams. Lack of depth could be their Achilles heel though.