No. 1 Highland Hornets
The Highland program has been on the rebuild and excelling under head coach Justin Woody. The Hornets are coming off a 21-win season and state championship appearance. They'll replace plenty of key pieces but welcome back top-5 player Jose Murrillo (2022) a top junior that has the tools to be a D-1 player. He averaged 14 points and 12 rebounds a game last season.
No. 2 Gallup Bengals
The Gallup Bengals have played some of their best basketball the last two years under head coach Josh Dunlap and after a Final Four run 2020 they'll be eyeing another run. Back is one of the top players in the state in Joaquin Ortega a guard with potential.
No. 3 Hope Christian Huskies
The Hope Huskies were a sound club last season and reached the Final Four going 17-13 overall. Gone are some key players from this roster but welcome back a smooth guard in Sean Martinez (2021) who could keep them playing at a high level.
No. 4 Valley Vikings
Back-to-back state champ Valley High School enters a new era with longtime assistant EZ Panas. The roster will be new and plenty has left from those two title teams but they welcome top point guard Derick Chavez (2021) back a top 15 player in the state.
No. 5 Del Norte Knights
The Knights went 15-13 last season and reached the PIT again. They do lose next level player Malik Barton from last season but return freshman of the year Shane Douma-Sanchez (2023). This Knights team could be set up for a nice three-year run.
No. 6 Albuquerque Academy Chargers
The Chargers lose two key players from last seasons state tournament team in Brady Forde and Ryan Yassin but have plenty of young talent to carry the Chargers forward. Head coach Jake Herrin does a very good job at building programs and I wouldn't be surprised to see them making the eight this May.
No. 7 Artesia Bulldogs
The Artesia Bulldogs won 19-games and reached the Elite Eight last season. Although they lost some key pieces from last season, moving forward they have have a well balanced squad. Johntae Rodriguez at guard brings some strength in many categories and one of those intangible guys.
No. 8 Espanola Valley Sundevils
The Sundevils will enter year two under head coach Gabriel Martinez after going 18-10 during the 2020 season. The Sundevils also reached the Elite Eight (losing 72-47 to Gallup). They return big man Ollie Fell (2022), a 6-6 forward.
No. 9 Goddard Rockets
The Rockets consistently stay at the top of the classification with head coach Anthony Mestas at the helm. The Rockets welcome back Noah Reese (2022), James Torrez (2022), and Gabriel Campos (2021). The Rockets will do some battle in district with Artesia but a state tournament bid is on the verge, if they only take 8 this season. This Rockets team could be the darkhorse of the year and a buy low type of team.
No. 10 Valencia Jaguars
This could be a bit high for the Jaguars who are coming off an 18-win season and that reached their first Elite Eight at the PIT. They lost their top three players from last season and could be going through a mini rebuild. The two returners to watch for the Jaguars are Preston Lowery (2021) and Eric Lopez (2021) this season. Both averaged around 6 points per game but will step into bigger roles. The one for the future is 2023 Ali Abdullah who contributed some minutes last season.
No. 11 Kirtland Central Broncos
The Broncos enter the season just outside the top ten but will look to make an early statement. They return leading scorer Cameron Crawford (2021) from the team that went 17-12 and finished second in district play. The Broncos alos return Jaxson Manning (2021), Elijah Jenks (2022), and Kragen Camden (2022) who played big roles last season providing them with plenty of talent to make a push at an automatic bid. The Broncos reached the state tournament last season and look to make that run again.
No. 12 Taos Tigers
The Tigers are coming off back-to-back twenty win seasons, 21-8 overall last season and reached the state tournament. In 2019 exiting in the opening round of the state tournament after reaching the elite eight in 2018. The Tigers could have the highest floor to ceiling argument heading into this season. Many that contribute to our rankings, in debate, have the Tigers any place from 7 to 14 and maybe giving us a dark horse type of team that is well unknown. The two things that we do know; they return one of the top players in the classification in Abdul Khweis (2021) who was a New Mexico All-Tournament team in 2018 and is coming off another stellar season averaging 17 points per game in 2019. They'll need to replace Angel Limas and Noah Armijo but the depth off the bench should be enough for another run at an elite eight showing. Anthony Padilla (2022) and Isiah Jeantete (2022) are a pair of juniors that will provide Khweis with help in terms of scoring options.
No. 13 Grants Pirates
The Pirates had a roller coaster type of season with some highs and lows. They ended up going 14-14 overall and reaching the state tournament. The Pirates had another mid-season coaching change as first-year head coach Mark Teel stepped down late January for health reasons. Interim head coach Landon Chavez guided the Pirates to 6 wins of the final 9 including a close loss in the first round against Artesia. Good news for the Pirates is graduating two players, 1 starter and welcoming back some good talent to make a run again in district play. They finished tied for second place last season. Nick Trujillo (2021), Romero Hudson (2021) and 6-foot-4 post Colton Moore (2022) all return. The Pirates made a great off-season decision to remove the interim tag from Chavez title and promoted to head coach bringing some stability.
No. 14 Lovington Wildcats
After going 16-13 overall last season the Wildcats are entering 2021 with some steam moving forward. This could be a very good Wildcats team as they welcome back three of their top five offensive threats this season. Cobe Sandoval (2021), Isaac Hinson (2022), and Tayten Hillard (2022) each coming into the season after averaging between 8 and 7 points on the season. The Wildcats shared the ball well last season and several players were involved in the system in 2020. Maybe, the one thing that can carry them forward is having the one player to take them over the hump and into the Elite Eight. This could be a big mover forward this season. The Wildcats ended last season on a high note winning three of the final four games and earning a bid into the state tournament.
No. 15 Bernalillo Spartans
Big things could be in store for the Bernaillo basketball team this season. The Spartans could be one of the better teams in this next group of five teams being mentioned in our NMPreps.com preseason rankings for the 2021 basketball season. They'll miss out with the graduation loss to Luis Villegas and Michael Maes but have plenty to be excited about. The Spartans led by longtime head coach Terry Darnell could have himself a very good group. Ayden Madrid (2021), a 6-foot-1 post, is one of several posts that could guide the Spartans roster this season. Pair 6-foot-4 forwards Christian Vigil and Daniel Lopez to round out the Spartans. The Spartans, playing in the toughest district in 4A, struggled to an 0-10 district showing that would keep them out of the playoffs (9-18 overall during 2019-2020). They won't have to battle with Highland this season but the district remains strong with Del Norte, Albuquerque Academy, Hope Christian and Valley. With only eight teams getting a state bid this year it becomes more of a dogfight in this district.
No. 16 St. Pius X Sartans
The Sartans are coming off a 9-16 overall season; losing nine of the final eleven games to the 2020 season. Bad news is the loss of some talented seniors that include big man Derek Rivera. The good news for the Sartans is returning some nice guards that can knock it down when left alone. Look for a core of Alec Garcia (2021), Nick Pascuzzi (2021), and Nick Vargas (2021) led by scoring guard Jonah Arnett (2021) to carry them forward this season. Let's keep in mind this will be year two under head coach Ryan Meyers as the Sartans experienced only their first under .500 season ten years. They will only continue to get better and this could be a perfect rebound season for the Sartans in a shortened season.
No. 17 Portales Rams
The Portales Rams are coming off a 10-17 season and missed the 2020 State Tournament. For, head coach Rickie McBroom it is a unknown place to be as he typically has the Rams playing late into the post season. It speaks for the change in classification the NMAA opted for during this block. The Rams lost some of their top players from last season and will have more holes to fill. They will look to senior post players Josiah Tellez and Kenevan Bailey to carry them forward. Both played well late last season and give them some experience as they look to battle in a tough four team district.
No. 18 Miyamura Patriots
The Patriots will enter year four under head coach Reyes Hernandez after going 9-19 overall and 4-6 in district play. The Patriots could be a quiet riser this season and be a sneaky bubble team that gets into the playoffs (if we happen to go back to 16 teams). I like the returning players in 6-foot-5 Christopher Mortensen (2021) and a pair of 2022 players in Cael Stewart, an athletic 6-foot-4 forward, and Mathias Rodriguez. Yes, this could be one that we had too high but it will also be a wait and see. They need to shake off their 'worst' season under Hernandez who won 15 in his first season and 16 in his second year. Year four gives is now the full culture and program under one head coach - make or break?
No. 19 Belen Eagles
The Belen Eagles have been going through a massive rebuild since winning it all in 2018. They went 12-15 in 2019 and now coming off a 7-20 overall season in 2020. The 2021 season will be year four under head coach Andrew Dunnell and will be the one that has the staple of the Dunnell tenure. The Eagles lacked some experience last season and will have some go-to players returning. Guard Josh Sisneros (2021) and Brody Jaquez (2022) will be players to watch. Jaquez, a 6-3 post, played well as a sophomore last season.
No. 20 Bloomfield Bobcats
Bloomfield is coming off back-to-back 11-17 seasons under head coach Randy Crockett who is entering his fifth season, taking over in 2016-2017, at the helm and searching for their first over .500 season since taking over (Bloomfield last went over .500 in 2015-2016 winning 20-games the season). The good news for the Bobcats looking forward is returning do-all wing Raymundo Alcantar (2021). The Bobcats could battle and be in the mix for the third place position and maybe runner up slot in this district.
No. 21 Santa Teresa Desert Warriors
The Desert Warriors are coming off a state tournament appearance and a district tournament championship. They went 11-19 overall last season and 5-1 in district play. This could be high for the Desert Warriors who could be projected to take a step back after graduating 10-players from last season and returning four experienced players. Julian Cobos (2022) is the player to watch the next two years as he'll become the focus point for the future of the Desert Warriors.
No. 22 Pojoaque Valley Elks
The Pojoaque Valley Elks fell short in their building process finishing with a 10-17 overall record. Head coach Thomas Vigil finishes his third season at the helm and has scene small growth going from 6 to 8 to 10 wins in his three years. The bad news: The lose their top four players from last season to graduation and have to replace a majority of their offense. They will look to Lukas Archibeque (2021), Sean Aragon (2021), and Andrew Garcia (2021) moving into the 2020/2021 season. The reality however could be another season around 8-11 wins and missing the state tournament. The district remains the same with Moriarty, Los Alamos, Taos and Espanola Valley. They could find a spot in the DC or in the cellar.
No. 23 Shiprock Chieftains
2019-2020 Record: 8-19 overall, 3-7 in district
Scoop: The Chieftains graduate eight players and could be looking at another season fighting out of the twenty range. The good news for the Chieftains will be in the hands of Shannon Dale (2021) who is a 6-foot-3 forward that can score around the hoop or knock it down from the outside. The Chieftains will go as far as he can lead them this coming season. Their district outside of the top team in Gallup could be a mixture by the end of the season with any team chopping at the runner up spot.
No. 24 Chaparral Lobos
Record: 14-15 overall, 5-1 district
Scoop: It's a brief history but the Lobos accomplished two things in 2019/2020: Highest win total in program history and reached the state tournament for the second time in its' 13-year history. Looking forward the Lobos have to replace its top three leading scorers from last season and in all they graduate six players off their 12-player roster. District play should play into their favor again with Silver and Ruidoso already making our ranking list. Joel Chavira (2021) and Ivan Barcenas (2021) will be the two to watch this season. Chavira with 5.3 points per game and 6.7 rebounds a game.
No. 25 Moriarty Pintos
Record: 7-18 overall, 1-7 district
Scoop: The Moriarty Pintos went 7-18 under first-year head coach Marcus Ortiz. The Pintos were projected to struggle some last season with the move "up" in classification and replacing some vital pieces from the 20-9 team in 2017-2018. The bad news for the Pintos is the loss of seven seniors and all of their frontcourt players. They only return one player over six foot after graduating four. This could be another build type of season for the Pintos but the good news is the district won't be extremely tough. They remain with Espanola, Taos, Los Alamos and Pojoaque Valley.
No. 26 Silver Colts
Record: 5-23 overall, 2-4 district
Scoop: The Silver Colts dropped off last season after making a head coaching change. After three consecutive season of 24 wins (2019, 2018, 2017) and a 20 win season in 2016, along with nine years in a row of an over .500 record under former head coach Brandon Siqueiros. The Colts went 5-23 overall last season and experienced their first losing season since 2010 and lowest win total since 1983 (they went 4-19 that season). The good news for the Colts is the return of just about all of their weapons and options and should escape the cellar this season. They have size and talent that returns next season. They will look to leadership from the backcourt in John Lopez (2021) and Edward Flores (2021).
No. 27 Ruidoso Warriors
Record: 7-21 overall, 0-6 district
Scoop: Unfortunately, for one of 4A's smallest schools in terms of enrollment, it could be finding itself in the 20's and on the outside looking in again. However, head coach Billy Paige will get the most out of his players and program. They enter 2020 on a 7-game losing streak and went 2-16 after the Christmas break. The good news is that they will only continue to get better and they welcome back 11 of 13 varsity players from last season. Four year lettermen Brady Mendez (2020) and 6-foot-3 post Grant Oberheu (2020) look to carry some of the load forward.
No. 28 Los Alamos Hilltoppers
Record: 7-21 overall, 2-6 district
Scoop: The bad news - the Hilltoppers graduate six players off a 7-win team. The good news - the Hilltoppers return Wesley Stanfield (2022) and Harrison Frank (2023), their top two players from last season. Frank is coming off a stellar freshman season.
No. 29 Aztec Tigers
Record: 8-19 overall, 1-9 district
Scoop: The Tigers will have a new head coach next season and coming off a 8-win season they have plenty of room to improve. They have a good foundation with former Matthew Steinfeldft giving them some stability and they return their top two players in Austin Schaub (2021) and Marcus Rios (2021); Schaub led the way with 10 ppg, and 5 rebounds per.
