Catholic's Justin Bufford leads all-CCC boys basketball team

For 19 years, Catholic basketball had struggled for relevance.

The Knights had won state championships in 1999 and 2000, but the next 19 years included seven losses in the area tournament, eight losses in sub-regional games and four losses in the regionals.

Then Justin Bufford arrived.

The Knights had earned the area tournament title the year before and returned most of its talent, but the arrival of Bufford, a transfer from Selma’s Ellwood Christian Academy, gave Catholic a missing piece of the puzzle in its desire to return to the state basketball tournament in Birmingham.

“I can’t say enough good things about him,” Catholic coach Mike Curry said. “The way he carries himself, the way he works, he’s about the right things. I think the sky’s the limit for him. He’s been great here at Catholic and we’re happy he’s a Catholic Knight.”

All five Catholic starters were chosen to the 2020 all-Capital City Conference team by the coaches, a reflection that it took more than Bufford to set a school record for wins in a 30-5 journey that reached the semifinals of the state tournament. But there was no question the 6-foot-6 wing player was the most dominant player in the region, averaging 22 points, 10.7 rebounds, 3.5 steals, 3.7 blocked shots and 2.4 assists per game.

While the Knights didn’t play for the 4A state championship this season, the journey was a gratifying one for a player who was often underappreciated and overlooked at his Selma private school before transferring to Catholic over the summer.

“The journey was crazy, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world,” Bufford said. “It showed me a lot of things as I get older and become a man – how to be humble, how to praise God even in the worst. I give all the glory to God for putting me in this position, putting me with this coach and putting me with this team. I learned that Justin can be very determined, that Justin can be a leader, I learned that Justin is very versatile in his environment. There aren’t too many environments that I go in that I’m not comfortable.”

The history-making season started in a new gym, where the Knights won the regular-season area title, followed by a win in the sub-regional round and a trip to the regionals for only the second time in the past 10 years. Catholic then advanced to the regional finals for only the third time in the last 19 years and advanced to the state tournament before losing to defending state champ Talladega.

The addition of newcomers LJ Green and TJ Dudley, along with the return of 2019 CCC player of the year DJ Carter, made the Knights a formidable team in 2020. Adding Bufford made them a championship contender.

“You never know, it all depends on how guys mesh and how things jell,” Curry said. “But they all bought in, put both feet in a circle and things just took off. I’m super proud of these guys and proud to be their coach.”

And with four of the five starters returning in 2021, Bufford believes next year’s team can finish the journey.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if they win it all next year,” he said. “I hate I’m not going to be a part of that team next year. I love those guys. I wish I could play with them for at least two more years.”

All-Capital City Conference Boys’ Basketball Team

First Team

DJ Carter, 5-11, G, Jr., Catholic

Oliver Bear, 5-10, G, Sr., Montgomery Academy

LJ Green, 6-0, G, Fr., Catholic

Andrew Sadie, 6-0, G, Sr., St. James

Andrew McNees, 6-5, C, Jr., Trinity

Second Team

Bradley Thomas, 5-9, G, So., St. James

William Norrell, 5-10, G, Sr., Montgomery Academy

Jalen Clark, 6-3, G-F, Jr., Alabama Christian Academy

Parker Hughes, 6-3, G-F, Jr., Trinity

TJ Dudley, 6-2, F, So., Catholic

Honorable Mention: Will Aaron, 5-10, G, Sr., Trinity; Myles Butler, 6-2, G-F, Jr., Catholic; Britton Kohn, 6-1, G, Jr., Montgomery Academy.

Player of the Year: Justin Bufford, Catholic

Coach of the Year: Mike Curry, Catholic