Coaches Comment On State Basketball Tournament Talent

As the postseason approaches, we reached out to several head basketball coaches in all classifications from around New Mexico to ask them about some of the top players in the state.  Here are some of the descriptions/player profiles and what the coaches had to say:

(note-this is NOT a list of every team’s top player, etc.  They are names of some players that various coaches spoke about heading into the postseason and a sample of their comments)

Girls

Class 5A

Kamalani Anitielu, Farmington High School, senior: “Only the 5^th player at Farmington High School to ever score more than 1,000 career pointsâ€

Kapiolani Anitielu (junior)/Kjani Anitielu (freshman): Younger sisters of Kamalani with “good court vision and quicknessâ€, “Huge 3-point threatâ€

Sydney Benally, Sandia High School, sophomore: Sophomore captain averaging over 20 points a game “A threat with the ball in her handsâ€

Emma Christiano, Las Cruces High School, senior: “veteran guard who reached the 1,000 point plateau this seasonâ€

Kyndle Cunningham, Hobbs High School, sophomore: “Solid post player who’s had to step upâ€, “Good defender inside the paintâ€

Taejhuan Hill, Volcano Vista High School, junior: “Experienced post player who is tough to stop on the blockâ€, “Comes up big in big gamesâ€

Bella Hines, Eldorado High School, sophomore: “One of the most dynamic girls basketball players in the state†who reached the 1,000 point mark for her career earlier this season,  “Capable of taking over a gameâ€

Eva Love, La Cueva High School, junior: “Versatile guard with a good range and leadership skillsâ€, “Good mid-range jumperâ€:

Leilani Love, Albuquerque High School, senior: “One of the top post players in the state with range off the block as wellâ€, scored over 1,000 points in her career

Aspen Salazar, Centennial High School, senior: “The top scoring player from the south at almost 20 points a gameâ€, passed the 1,000 point mark this season

Caitlin Turnbow, Organ Mountain High School, junior: 5’10†forward averaging 17 points and 10 rebounds a game, “Rock solidâ€

 

4A

Kera Beall-Gleason, Kirtland Central High School, junior: “Can hurt you in many different waysâ€

Kiera Livingston, Gallup High School, senior: “A great shooterâ€

Alyssa Maes, St. Pius X, junior: “A great playmakerâ€

Azalia Malizia, Valencia High School, junior: “A point guard with speed and a pesky defenderâ€

Kathleen Obisike, Hope Christian School, senior: “Forward capable of a double-double almost every gameâ€, scored over 1,000 points in her career and grabbed over 1,000 rebounds

Rylie Whitehair, Gallup High School, sophomore: “Very tough post who draws a bunch of double teamsâ€

 

3A

Emma Lewis, Santa Fe Indian School, sophomore: “Tough to guard and a good rebounderâ€

Alexis Pacheco, Robertson High School, sophomore: “Fast and can create havocâ€

Lauryn Pecos, St. Michael’s High School, senior: “Versatile player that can run the point or beat you in the paintâ€

 

2A

Morgan Crisp, Clayton High School, senior: “Sharpshooting guard with unlimited rangeâ€

Analise MacAuley, Penasco High School, junior: “Versatile double-double player with good footworkâ€

Brycelyn Martinez, Escalante High School, senior: “Experienced playerâ€, “game changer that does it allâ€

Daelyn Pacheco, Santa Rosa High School, senior: “Easily a double-double with points and assists every gameâ€

Isabella Poison, Santa Rosa High School, senior: “Dominant on the block offensively and defensivelyâ€

Bailey Vigil, Dulce High School, junior: “Usually the best player on the floor in most of her gamesâ€

 

1A

Harmony Abalos, Cliff High School, senior: “Point guard who leads her team in every gameâ€

Alyce Apachito, To’Hajiilee High School, senior/Tyler-Rose Apachito, To’Hajiilee High School, senior: “Both are experienced players who average double figuresâ€, Alyce is “unstoppable on the low postâ€

Jordan Clifton, Cliff High School, senior: “Experienced post player,†“Tough to stop inside and outâ€

Tanna Crisp, Roy/Quemado, senior: “A post who can play inside or outsideâ€

Addy Offutt, Animas High School, senior: “Aggressive defensively and outworks everyone on the courtâ€, “can shoot from the outside or take you off the dribbleâ€, “Hard to stop everywhere on the floorâ€

Isabelle Sena, Melrose High School, senior: “Experienced point guard and glue for that groupâ€

 

 

Boys

5A

Kenyon Aguino, Volcano Vista, sophomore: “Can play inside or out with his length and soft touchâ€

Sean Alter, Volcano Vista, senior: Experienced 6’9†post player that is “difficult to defendâ€

Jalin Holland, Los Lunas High School, sophomore: “Can score in a variety of ways with excellent ball-handling skillsâ€

Andrew Hill, Sandia High School, senior: 6’2†guard “with good ball-handling skills, capable of putting up a big numberâ€

Brandon Kehres, Organ Mountain High School, junior: 6’5†forward who “is the top player in District 3 and can get his points in a variety of waysâ€

Michael Mackey, Hobbs High School, senior: “Three-year starter scored 51 points earlier this season against Clovisâ€, “The Eagles go as he goesâ€

 

4A

Alex Alfaro, Deming High School, senior: 6’1†captain, “he’s our district MVPâ€

Alexis Dominguez, Highland High School, senior: “An experienced guard with very high basketball IQâ€, “He gets his shot off quickly and knows when to make the right passâ€

Shane Douma-Sanchez, Del Norte High School, senior: “Can score from everywhere on the court and is a great passer, so he is very hard to game planâ€, the state’s leading scorer (also one of the state’s best in assists) who put up 60 points in a game earlier this season.  He is also the school’s all-time leading scorer.

Daemon Ely, Taos High School, senior: 6’8†post player who is “one of the top scorers in the northâ€

Kellan Gehres, Albuquerque Academy, senior: “All-around athlete with good shooting rangeâ€, has scored over 1,000 points in his career.

Satchel Hogue, Kirtland Central High School, senior: 6-foot guard “with range and skillâ€

Joe Jack, Albuquerque Academy, junior: “At 6’3†he’s a matchup nightmare in 4Aâ€

Brian Kalb, St. Pius X School, senior: A 6’3†post player who “can score at every spot on the floor and knows how to make his teammates betterâ€

Derek Sanchez, Pojoaque Valley, senior: 6’1†senior averaging almost 25 points a game and “tough to defendâ€

Nick Sanchez, Artesia High School, senior: 3^rd year point guard with over 1,00 career points, “can really score and set the pace for the Bulldogsâ€

Jett Wyckoff, Hope Christian School, senior: A 6’3†forward who “can score at every spot on the floorâ€, reached the 1,000-point mark for his career

 

3A

Cooper Hautau, Bosque School, junior: Averaging over 19 points a game for the Bobcats, “guard with rangeâ€

Adam Montoya, St. Michael’s High School, senior: “Returning leader for the Horsemenâ€

Kyle Morris, Bosque School, junior: Has over 1,000 career points with another season left to play, “consistent scorer for the Bobcatsâ€

Jude Thomas, Navajo Prep School, junior: 6’ guard who leads the upstart Eagles with over 17 points a game, “a key part of a three-headed monster at Navajo Prepâ€

 

2A

Jahvon Askew, Texico High School, senior: A 6’2†guard who “can play above the rim making him a dynamic rebounder and scorerâ€

Julian Bernadino, ATC, junior: “Athletic and, at 6’3â€, is a tough matchupâ€

Marky Chavez, Santa Rosa High School, senior: “Lefty slasher with a smooth jump shotâ€

Andres Madrid, Santa Rosa High School, senior: 3-year starter who “plays inside and outside and can beat you at bothâ€

Jodaiah Padilla, Pecos High School, senior: “Good ball handling abilityâ€, “He’s a legitimate scoring threat every time he has the ballâ€

Rylan Ruf, Clayton High School, senior: “Ability to play interior and perimeterâ€, “He can score from anywhere on the floorâ€

 

1A

Cash Burney, Ft.Sumner/House, junior: “A HUGE presence inside at 6’7â€, “Big and strong and not afraid to shootâ€

Brock Burns, Logan High School, junior: “Overall athlete could play for anyone at any classâ€

Michael Cardonita, Melrose High School, junior: “Can get to the rim in a variety of ways and a long,athletic defenderâ€

Orren Floyd, Maxwell High School, senior: “Excellent 3-point shooter who can also get to the basket using either handâ€

Steven Masini, Dora High School, senior: A 6’5†post player who averages 25 points and 15 rebounds a game. “Top 5 post player regardless of classâ€, “one of the best, most athlete, inside players in the stateâ€

Clay Norman, Ft.Sumner/House, senior: “Unlimited rangeâ€, “Best 3-point shooter in our classâ€

Tristan Pierce, Maxwell High School, senior: “Plays up tempoâ€, “deadly quick release from downtownâ€

Kael Stephens, Magdalena High School, senior: “Can score both inside and outâ€, “he’s a matchup problem on both endsâ€

Kaedan Stoner, Logan High School, junior: “Good shooterâ€,“Don’t leave him openâ€

Caleb Sumpter, Des Moines High School, junior: “A versatile scorer who can get to the basketâ€

Carter Tuene, Clovis Christian High School, senior: Scored over 1,000 points in his career “a pure shooterâ€

D’Shaun Vinyard, Magdalena High School, senior: “Athletic guard and good rebounderâ€, “high flyer that can shoot from deepâ€

Dathan Yeary, Melrose High School, junior: “You want this guy”