Talent-laden St. Aug has just one opponent: Itself

    After watching St. Augustine cruise through the Allstate Sugar Bowl CYO basketball tournament for the second straight year, I am almost convinced there is one team in Class 4A that has the ability to beat the Purple Knights this year.
    It’s St. Augustine.
    Head coach Clifford Barthe knows this as well as I. He has put together a team that has as much talent as some of the great New Orleans prep teams of the past.
    I would rank the Purple Knights on par with the St. Aug teams of 1966 and those of the late 1990s, the Archbishop Rummel teams of 1977 and 1978, the Brother Martin teams of 2003-2005 and the great Booker T. Washington team of 1971.
    I’m not declaring that this  team will go unbeaten in Class 4A, which has been stronger in recent years than those in the state’s highest classification. But they certainly do have the potential because of their experience and size in the starting lineup, their outstanding depth and their unselfishness.
    It will be a matter of maintaining intensity and focus through the long season ahead.
    Few high school basketball teams have a starting lineup that can be described as a “Fab Five.” Barthe’s team goes six deep.
    Two senior starters, All-State point guard Javan Felix, has signed with the University of Texas. Senior forward Deion Taylor is headed for Richmond. He stands 6-7 and is just 16 years old.
    The man in the middle is another 16-year-old, sophomore Craig Victor. His play in the tournament and 18-point performance in the 76-52 championship win over Holy Cross earned him MVP honors for the second straight year.
    Guard R.J. Daniels and forward Kris Raphael are a perfect blend for the other three.
    Sydie London, a 6-5 forward whom any coach would want in his starting lineup, is the sixth man. He adds a whole new dimension to the game when he comes in.
    London, who can score from inside or out, would be a college basketball signee were it not for his value as a potential tight end. So I expect him to play football at the next level.
    For the first time since 1967,  this defending Class 5A state champion will not play in the state’s highest class. They will, however, be the favorite to win the District 10-4A trophy.
    Holy Cross, which returns most of its top players from last year’s Class 3A runner-up squad, should finish second to the Knights, with East Jefferson third, followed by Warren Easton, Ben Franklin and Riverdale.
    Holy Cross’ returning veterans include guard Wesley Pinera, center Eugene Lawrence, forward Chris Kennie and guard Joel Pichon.  But the best may be newcomer Greg White-Pittman, a sophomore who originally wanted to attend St. Augustine. He brings even more athleticism to a team that will challenge the Purple Knights for supremacy.
    Brother Martin is the favorite to win District 9-5A with the remnants of the Catholic League, Jesuit and Archbishop Rummel, scrapping with Grace King and Chalmette for second. West Jefferson appears to be the darkhorse.
    Ron Brocato can be reached at rbrocato@clarionherald.org.