We are still a while away from this years season, but I figured I would get a discussion going over the top CSAL basketball teams over the past 15 years. I know there will be some arguments over 1 & 2.

Here you go:

1.St. George 1997 – Key Players – Brad Cook, Kyle Ripple, Blake Cash
82-0 during its 3-year run in the csal league. It was an event if a team was able to be within 10 points in the second half. This is easily the deepest team in CSAL history. Their second line of players could have won the league as well. They competed it some tournaments with the grade ahead for more competition. This team started the run by Coach Mike Palermo of great St. George teams.

2. St. Thomas More 1996 – Key Players – Dale Almond, Adam Foy, Jeff Tuminello
31-0 in 8th grade. Almond is possibly the best sharp shooter in the past 15 years in CSAL. This team had size, strength, and the will to win. Like the St. George 96 team, they also competed in tournaments with the grade ahead because their age group was not enough competition for them. The STM gym was rocking anytime this team was playing.

3.St. George 1998 – Key Players – Michael Palermo, John Freeman, Samuel D’agastino
73 –3 from 6th through 8th grade. This team was not nearly as physically imposing as the above 2, but it knew how to win. They were a very cohesive unit that loved to play defense. Losing only 1 game in each of its 3 seasons, they defeated opponents that were bigger, stronger and faster. In this teams 8th grade season, they defeated rival St. Thomas More 4 times including the elite 8 championship.

4.St. Thomas More 2002 – Key Players – Zack Kinsley, Jacob Zumo
Led by Coach Derek Fife, this team did not play around. 2002 was one of the toughest years in CSAL competition in recent history, and this team rose to the top. Like a lot of St. Thomas More teams, their players were suspiciously bigger than other schools. They mastered the famed St. Thomas More flex offense. It was impossible to defend this team with man to man defense.

5. Our Lady of Mercy 2004 – Key Players – Kevin Miller, John Darnall
Sharp shooter John Darnall and above the rim player Kevin Miller played a 2-man game that was tough to defend. Kevin Miller wowed crowds with a few dunks that year. Besides these 2 players, they also had a few other shooters that gave teams headaches.

6.Sacred Heart 2000 – Key Players – Phillip Ray
There is a definite gap between the number 5 and 6 teams. This team won the CSAL elite 8 championship despite trailing at the half to a scrappy St. George team. They relied on athleticism to run teams off the court much like other Sacred Heart teams do as well.