The562’s coverage of St. Anthony athletics is sponsored by Jane & B.I. Mais, Class of 1949.
The 2023-24 version of the St. Anthony Saints accomplished a major goal back in February, winning a CIF-SS championship along with the girls’ basketball team in an unforgettable doubleheader at Azusa Pacific.
That day will live forever in the St. Anthony history books, but the page has now been turned, and those accomplishments are firmly in the past. The only question now is: what will the sequel look like? With a new-look group of Saints hoping to write their own bit of history, the focus is squarely on the season ahead.
Head coach Alan Mitchell said his team has had to shake off some of the complacency that comes with a championship season, and that will be necessary with some key starters leaving the program. All of the returning players will see expanded roles, with many expected to see significant increases in playing time.
“Only three of the guys have the same role they did last year with just a little more on top, but the other four guys that we’re returning, we need more from them,” Mitchell said. “We had a lot of goals in our own locker room that we didn’t achieve last year, even with the success that we did have winning the section title. Especially as we get closer to the season, it’s just been a constant reminder that there’s a lot more things that we could still achieve.”
Lost to graduation is the Division 2AA CIF-SS Player of the Year Quincy Phillips, along with a slew of seniors in the frontcourt that gave the Saints significant depth for their in-your-face, defense-first gameplan. With the transfer of junior guard JoJo Wicker to Millikan, there’s plenty of opportunities for new playmakers to emerge in the year ahead.
The Saints will have a solid senior class which includes an experienced lead guard in Darius Williams. An All-Del Rey League player a season ago, Williams has been tasked not only with orchestrating the offense, but also scoring the ball more consistently. He realizes that more will be asked of him as a senior, but he’s ready to take on that responsibility.
“I think just being a team leader, being the captain of the team,” said Williams on what he’s hoping to bring to the court. “Being able to play-make as a guard, able to see the court and score, and also being a presence on defense.”
There’s not as much size on this year’s roster, but Williams isn’t too worried about that. He’s looking forward to the Saints playing at a higher tempo getting up and down the court, but that will leave some question marks about defending down low and securing rebounds. It will take a team effort on the glass, and demands a trait that’s been a calling card for Mitchell’s teams.
“When you look at our team, obviously we don’t have several 6’8” guys or anything like that, so how are we going to be on the defensive and offensive glass,” Mitchell pondered. “I think rebounding is just toughness. It’s just a matter of toughness and competing.”
St. Anthony is happy to welcome senior Donovan Pitts back into the fold, after a knee injury forced him to miss most of last season. Mitchell said he’s grown to be about 6-4 or 6-5, providing some valuable length.
Fellow senior Mikey Cortez was limited by his ACL injury in the first part of last season, but was able to assist in the Saints’ playoff run and will be ready to contribute right away this year. Senior guard Justin Blair was a defensive-minded player last season who has added to his game offensively with an improved jumpshot.
One of the most exciting newcomers to the St. Anthony program is junior guard Jayshawn Kibble, who helped lead King/Drew High to the LA City Section Open Division championship last year. He scored 20 points in the title game for the Golden Eagles, and will be a welcome addition to the Saints’ lineup following his 30-day sit-out period.
“He brings some toughness and he’s an elite competitor,” said Mitchell of Kibble. “He can obviously score the basketball at a very good rate from all three levels, and not saying he’s a finished product, but for high school basketball he has that ‘it’ to his game; that toughness, that gas, and the ability to score the basketball.”
In the frontcourt, 6-foot-5 senior Aman Haynes is the top returner from a deep rotation of forwards. His experience will be crucial in leading St. Anthony’s efforts on the offensive and defensive glass, and he started the season with a bang scoring 31 points in a win at Wilson. He’ll also get low-post support from 6-foot-5 senior Elijah Jackson, who will get his chance to contribute on varsity and could earn some starts when the Saints are in need of more size.
Freshman Fox Narvaez is also expected to contribute this year, and Mitchell likes his IQ and feel for the game at a young age.
St. Anthony will have a grueling schedule once again, facing a pair of Moore League opponents in week one with games against both Wilson and Millikan. Kibble will join the lineup in time for the Saints’ trip to the Classic at Damien–always a top tourney in SoCal every year–which will begin with a showdown against Crespi.
The Del Rey League should again be unforgiving from top to bottom with reigning champs St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy, St. Bernard, Serra, St. Paul, and Bishop Montgomery all presenting stiff competition.
Whenever the Saints take the floor this season, they’ll rightfully be seen as defending CIF champs, and are sure to get everyone’s best shot. That means the challenge should be even greater for this year’s group, but any program led by Mitchell is not only ready for a challenge–they welcome it with open arms. And while last year’s success is not to be forgotten, these Saints will look to build their own bit of history, with the goal of winning their last game come March and the CIF State tournament.
“You can’t say ‘Forget about the championship,’ because we did it. We made some history,” said Mitchell. “But the same way you can’t forget about that, just remember, we didn’t end on top through it all … But the guys are definitely motivated. And just with the way our schedule is, man, they know what’s in front of them.”
