5th Annual CSAL 8th Grade Basketball Preseason Rankings

Alright CSAL fans, Jamborees tip off tonight with some solid action for the always competitive 8th Grade League. It is time for the highly anticipated Preseason Rankings:

1. Sacred Heart – The Tigers are the clear cut #1 team. They were undefeated last year and won the 7th grade championship. There is talk that they may be the best team since OLOM’s team in 2004 which had Kevin Miller and John Darnall. This team has size, speed and depth. They can win in a variety of wins: up tempo, slow down grind it out, sit in a zone or play man to man. They remind me of the UNC team that won the championship a couple years ago with Hansborough and gang that seemed to not have a drop off when they went to the bench. It would be a major shock if they don’t cut down the nets come March.

2. St. George – The Dragons were the 7th grade runners up last season. They are one of the most athletic teams in the league, but can they come together as a basketball team. That will be the challenge for their future csal hall of fame coach. They boast a big strong team that will play man to man defense and likes to press. It’s been a while since St. George has brought home the Elite 8 trophy. Could this year be their year?

3. St. Jude – Their former LSU QB turned CSAL Coach has kept St. Jude as a perennial powerhouse. They tend to get better as the season goes on, and like to play a fast paced game and create open shots and crash the boards. This team should win a couple tournaments throughout the season and should make the Elite 8 semi-finals.

4. OLOM – Defending Elite 8 champs OLOM have a tough task at hand. They do not have the same talent they had last year, but seem to always be playing their best ball come tournament time. The Blue Jays have great tradition. This could be a letdown year if they are not too careful.

5. St. Aloysius – The Lions are gone from the days where everybody makes the team or they have 2 CSAL teams. They seem to be a borderline Elite 8 team every year and in a down year like this one, they should make it. They are sometimes a little erratic on offense, but they win with hustle.

6. St. Thomas More – The STM program continues to be in decline. Eagle Pride is not what it used to be. You really never know what you are going to get with the Eagles. They can pretty much compete with anyone, but aren’t always up to the task. The Eagles should make the Elite 8 this year, but aren’t real Championship contenders. They do continue to have one of the best home court advantages in the league.

7. Redemptorist- The Wolves are always one of the more athletic teams in the league. They like to play an up tempo sometimes unorganized brand of basketball that is comparable to the George Washington team a few years ago with Pops Mensah Bonsu. Defensively they play an in your face, overly aggressive full court man to man. They are a high risk high reward team.

8. St. Alphonsus – It is a tough call between St. Theresa and St. Alphonsus for the 8th spot, but St. Theresa struggled in their tournament where the most impressive thing was the 7th grade Episcopal team. The boys from Central get the nod here even though they sometimes look like a football team on the basketball court. They are typically a bubble team come tournament time. They like to play a 2-3 zone and dominate the boards with their size.