3rd Annual Preseason CSAL 8th Grade Basketball Rankings

Last year we finally saw a different championship game. After 3 years in a row of Our Lady of Mercy vs. St. George, we saw St. Jude cut down the nets after defeating St. Aloysius. St. Jude dominated the game with a 2 man pick and roll game. The gameplan put together by Coach Aaron Page worked perfectly.

Last year I predicted St. Aloysius over St. George in the final with St. Jude winning the consolation game. Instead we saw St. Jude defeat St. Aloysius, and St. George win the consolation game.

Jamborees start next week, so lets get to this years rankings:

1. St. Thomas More – After a year of some newcomers coaching the 8th grade, St. Thomas More has gone back to the roots with an old school St. Thomas More coach who will run the traditional flex offense. They also pride themselves on their 1-3-1 halfcourt trap. Supposedly these kids run the flex offense in their sleep. This team should remind Eagle pride grads of the turn of the century teams that caused defenses fits with players like current LSU guard Zach Kinsley.

2. St. Jude – St. Jude has undergone a coaching change, but the talent is still there in a down year for CSAL. In previous years, St. Jude was known for running a lot of pick and roll, half court 1-3-1 trap, and a 3 out 2 in zone offense that was nearly unstoppable. With a new coach on board, opposing coaches will have to really scout this team and put together some new gameplans.

3. Our Lady of Mercy – Last year was a rebuilding year for the Mercy Pride faithful, and this team is here in the 3 spot mainly because of a lack of competition. Mercy is known for always suspiciously being a little bigger than the rest of the 8th grade teams. They typically have about 3 towering 6 footers who roam the lane. Mercy likes to push the ball more than most of the teams, and plays tough man to man and 2-3 zone D.

4. St George – This appears to be a down year for St. George, but great coaching puts them in the #4 spot. It will be interesting if Coach Palermo can utilize his smothering man to man defense with less talent than he is used to. It may be a frustrating year for the St. George coaches as they are used to excellence, but I expect the coaching to keep them in quite a few games this season.

5. St. Aloysius – The rumors that multiple Elite 8 championship winning coach Derek Fife was going to return from retirement to coach the Lions are untrue. The Lions have been surprisingly hard nosed the past few years, and they hope to continue it this season. Last year they were pretty much a 1 man team, but this year they will have a much more balanced attack.

6. Catholic High School – Last year was the worst season in a while for the Father-Son coaching combo at CHS. They only won 2 games last season after a 20 win season the year before. This year they look to rebound with better talent. It all starts with their transfer PG from Sacred Heart and their 6’3 center who played Freshman Football. They look to play tough in your face D and run their complex motion sets on offense.

7. Sacred Heart – They lost their starting PG to Catholic High School, but there are still some athletes on the court. They look to compete with CHS for the Division B crown. Expect them to spread teams out, and take advantage of their outside shooting.

8. St. Alphonsus – Its been a few years since the boys from Central have put together a team to make it to the Elite 8. This could be their year as they always are built around their big bruisers in the paint.