VOLCANO VISTA’S KENYON AGUINO NAMED GATORADE NEW MEXICO BOYS BASKETBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
In its 39th year of honoring the nation’s most elite high school athletes, Gatorade today announced Kenyon Aguino of Volcano Vista High School is the 2023-24 Gatorade New Mexico Boys Basketball Player of the Year. Aguino is the second Gatorade New Mexico Boys Basketball Player of the Year to be chosen from Volcano Vista High School.
The award, which celebrates the nation’s top high school athletes for excellence on the court, in the classroom and in the community, distinguishes Aguino as New Mexico’s best high school boys basketball player. From CEOs and coaches to star athletes, Gatorade Player of the Year winners showcase the power of sport, touting an all-star group of alumni that includes LeBron James (2002-03 & 2001-02, St. Vincent – St. Mary High School, Ohio), Karl-Anthony Towns (2013-14 & 2012-13, St. Joseph High School, N.J.) and Jayson Tatum (2015-16, 2014-15 & 2013-14, Chaminade College Preparatory School, Mo.).
The 6-foot-7, 205-pound senior power forward led the Hawks to a 30-1 record and a third consecutive Class 5A state title this past season. Aguino averaged 22.7 points, 11 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.0 blocks per game. The state’s returning Gatorade Player of the Year, he shot 64 percent from inside the arc, 47.4 percent from 3-point range and 76.5 percent from the line. He is ranked as the nation’s No. 257 recruit in the Class of 2024 by PrepHoops.
A member of the Ohkay Owingeh Native American Tribe, Aguino, along with his teammates, regularly volunteers by helping school custodians clean up after the 2,000 member student body eats lunch. He has also donated his time to the Volcano Vista Youth Basketball Camp and the Rio Grande Down Syndrome Network Buddy Walk. He is a member of Volcano Vista’s Hawk Pride initiative, which supports a variety of student activities. “He’s the best player on the best team and does a little bit of everything for them,” said Danny Brown, head coach of Sandia High School. “The best thing about him is that he’s a leader and a servant-leader. He’s willing to sacrifice for the greater good. He truly understands what it means to be a part of something bigger than himself. He is humble and selfless. He’s a great human being with high integrity and character on and off the court.”
Aguino has maintained a weighted 4.33 GPA in the classroom. He remains undecided upon a collegiate destination.
The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one winner in the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states that sanction high school football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, baseball, softball, and boys and girls track & field, and awards one National Player of the Year in each sport. The selection process is administered by the Gatorade Player of the Year Selection Committee, which leverages experts including coaches, scouts, media and others as sources to help evaluate and determine the state winners in each sport.
Two-time winner Aguino joins recent Gatorade New Mexico Boys Basketball Players of the Year Ja’Kwon Hill (2021-22, Volcano Vista High School), William “Deuce” Benjamin (2020-21, Las Cruces High School) and Joziah Ramos (2019-20, Atrisco Heritage Academy High School), among the state’s list of former award winners.
