District Previews: 5A
Today, we continue our preseason coverage for the 2016/2017 season. We predict the finish for each district.
District 1-5A
The northwest district could be one of the strongest districts in terms of atmosphere, dark horse teams and fan bases in the classification. Will it translate to a deeper showing in the state tournament? That is yet to be seen but you have to like Final Four contenders in Farmington who were upset in the opening round as a 5-seed but return one of the players who seem ready for the next level. Gallup welcomes head coach James Voight who is one of the top rising coaches and have been praised for the splash of a hire.
Predicting Order of Finish
1. Farmington Scorpions
2. Gallup Bengals
3. Kirtland Central Broncos
4. Bloomfield Bobcats
5. Miyamura Patriots
6. Aztec Tigers
Preseason All-District
1. David Riley - Farmington
2. Brendon Charley - Bloomfield
2. Bryson Dowdy - Kirtland Central
3. Cyrus John - Gallup
4. Jason Upshaw - Miyamura
5. Nick Granger - Farmington
6. Nate John - Gallup
7. Sol Rascon - Farmington
8. Jacob Fiel - Aztec
9. Adriano Stevenson - Bloomfield
10. Ty Padilla - Bloomfield
District 2-5A
When the 5A basketball season concluded on March 12th, 2016 the final two teams standing hailed from District 2-5A. It was the 5-seed Espanola Valley Sundevils taking home their second state championship under head coach Richard Martinez, 36-34. The 3-seed Capital Jaguars who were playing in their first state championship since the first tenure under head coach Ben Gomez look to have some promise returning in 2016/2017. Not much could be said for the defending champs in Espanola Valley who have uncertainties about who will call the shots as the head coach. Right now it's the brother of head coach Richard Martinez.
What's new this season with be the addition of Albuquerque Academy into the northern district. Gone is Bernalillo High School who dropped to 4A basketball. So who is the challenger? You have to like Albuquerque Academy but also the surprise team this season - dark horse type - is the Los Alamos Hilltoppers who seem to finally have things going. Lastly, is the Del Norte Knights (Albuquerque) who had a coaching change this month as they bring in longtime Volcano Vista High School assistant Jeron McIntosh.
Predicting Order of Finish
1. Capital Jaguars
2. Espanola Valley Sundevils
3. Los Alamos Hilltoppers
4. Del Norte Knights
5. Albuquerque Academy Chargers
Preseason All-District
1. Jeremy Anaya - G - Capital
2. AZ Salazar - F - Espanola Valley
3. JP Sena - G - Espanola Valley
4. Isaiah Brooks - F - Capital
5. Jack Stewart - G - Los Alamos
6. Daniel Flores - G - Del Norte
7. Antonio Trujillo - G - Los Alamos
8. James Archuleta - F - Espanola Valley
9. Ronson Begay - W - Del Norte
10. Tyler Alarid - G - Capital
District 3-5A
The District will be one of the newer type of districts in the two-year realignment as Alamogordo and Deming both move into 5A from 6A basketball. Chaparral and Santa Teresa remain as the only members of this district from a year back. Immediately, Alamogordo becomes not only a favorite in the district but in the classification. They made a splash of a hire in bringing Brian Shock from two-time defending 1A champion Cliff High School. Deming also enters with some steam with a returner Joseph Ochoa who had a stellar sophomore campaign. Santa Teresa lost legendary head coach Robert Haack who passed away this off-season and will be in a minor transition. Chaparral returns only three players off a 2-24 team.
Predicted Order Finish
1. Alamogordo
2. Deming
3. Santa Teresa
4. Chaparral
Preseason All-District
1. Dee Smith - Alamogordo
2. Joseph Ochoa - Deming
3. Rakim Stokes - Alamogordo
4. Bishop Woodruff - Alamogordo
5. Alex Villa - Deming
6. Isaac Villegas - Deming
7. Gerardo Robledo - Chaparral
District 4-5A
A district that could be considered as one of the best basketball districts (yes, not football) in the classification with four teams that could all earn a bid to the State Tournament. That's 100% in the state tournament, top to bottom, in terms of strength. Where we start is the team that has owned the district in Roswell. They have pieces to replace but still the champs look like they will continue to be at the top. Artesia, ranked 3rd in the preseason poll, will be another team that could not only be at the top of the district but in the state. They have a transfer in Bryce McAlister that is a high next level prospect. Goddard and Lovington round out the district but this could be a situation when winning at home will matter and could happen across the board. Goddard enters year three of Anthony Mestas and though they lost a college level player they return some must see players. Lovington is the dark horse in the group but watch out for a defensive shift they showed this summer.
Predicted Order of Finish
1. Roswell
2. Artesia
3. Goddard
4. Lovington
Preseason All-District
1. Bryce McAlister - Artesia
2. Chris Mesquita - Roswell
3. Dalin Stanford - Goddard
4. Garret Smothermon - Roswell
5. LeAnthoney Harrison - Goddard
6. Taylor Null - Artesia
7. Ethan Duff - Artesia
8. Devon Torres - Artesia
District 5-5A
We just mentioned top to bottom one of the best districts. Well, this one might not be 100% all teams receiving a bid into the state tournament but would be surprised if 4/5 made the New Mexico State Tournament. Los Lunas returns with one of most talented teams in New Mexico in terms of depth and ranked preseason number one. Grants who had success last season reaching the Final Four will have one of the top players in 5A returning in Matt Vail. Belen the team that could have one of the better turn around teams that reaches the Elite Eight has some talent. St. Pius X, is the head scratcher but have to replace one of the best players from last season. Valencia, has to play in one of the toughest districts.
Predicted Order of Finish
1. Los Lunas
2. Grants
3. Belen
4. St. Pius X
5. Valencia
Preseason All-District
1. Matt Vail - Grants
2. Kayden Walker - Los Lunas
3. Martin Trujillo - Los Lunas
4. Zanen Zeller - Los Lunas
5. Brennan Myers - St. Pius X
6. Nicholas Trujillo
7. Hunter Wisneski - Los Lunas
8. Andres Lucero - Valencia
Today, we continue our preseason coverage for the 2016/2017 season. We predict the finish for each district.
District 1-5A
The northwest district could be one of the strongest districts in terms of atmosphere, dark horse teams and fan bases in the classification. Will it translate to a deeper showing in the state tournament? That is yet to be seen but you have to like Final Four contenders in Farmington who were upset in the opening round as a 5-seed but return one of the players who seem ready for the next level. Gallup welcomes head coach James Voight who is one of the top rising coaches and have been praised for the splash of a hire.
Predicting Order of Finish
1. Farmington Scorpions
2. Gallup Bengals
3. Kirtland Central Broncos
4. Bloomfield Bobcats
5. Miyamura Patriots
6. Aztec Tigers
Preseason All-District
1. David Riley - Farmington
2. Brendon Charley - Bloomfield
2. Bryson Dowdy - Kirtland Central
3. Cyrus John - Gallup
4. Jason Upshaw - Miyamura
5. Nick Granger - Farmington
6. Nate John - Gallup
7. Sol Rascon - Farmington
8. Jacob Fiel - Aztec
9. Adriano Stevenson - Bloomfield
10. Ty Padilla - Bloomfield
District 2-5A
When the 5A basketball season concluded on March 12th, 2016 the final two teams standing hailed from District 2-5A. It was the 5-seed Espanola Valley Sundevils taking home their second state championship under head coach Richard Martinez, 36-34. The 3-seed Capital Jaguars who were playing in their first state championship since the first tenure under head coach Ben Gomez look to have some promise returning in 2016/2017. Not much could be said for the defending champs in Espanola Valley who have uncertainties about who will call the shots as the head coach. Right now it's the brother of head coach Richard Martinez.
What's new this season with be the addition of Albuquerque Academy into the northern district. Gone is Bernalillo High School who dropped to 4A basketball. So who is the challenger? You have to like Albuquerque Academy but also the surprise team this season - dark horse type - is the Los Alamos Hilltoppers who seem to finally have things going. Lastly, is the Del Norte Knights (Albuquerque) who had a coaching change this month as they bring in longtime Volcano Vista High School assistant Jeron McIntosh.
Predicting Order of Finish
1. Capital Jaguars
2. Espanola Valley Sundevils
3. Los Alamos Hilltoppers
4. Del Norte Knights
5. Albuquerque Academy Chargers
Preseason All-District
1. Jeremy Anaya - G - Capital
2. AZ Salazar - F - Espanola Valley
3. JP Sena - G - Espanola Valley
4. Isaiah Brooks - F - Capital
5. Jack Stewart - G - Los Alamos
6. Daniel Flores - G - Del Norte
7. Antonio Trujillo - G - Los Alamos
8. James Archuleta - F - Espanola Valley
9. Ronson Begay - W - Del Norte
10. Tyler Alarid - G - Capital
District 3-5A
The District will be one of the newer type of districts in the two-year realignment as Alamogordo and Deming both move into 5A from 6A basketball. Chaparral and Santa Teresa remain as the only members of this district from a year back. Immediately, Alamogordo becomes not only a favorite in the district but in the classification. They made a splash of a hire in bringing Brian Shock from two-time defending 1A champion Cliff High School. Deming also enters with some steam with a returner Joseph Ochoa who had a stellar sophomore campaign. Santa Teresa lost legendary head coach Robert Haack who passed away this off-season and will be in a minor transition. Chaparral returns only three players off a 2-24 team.
Predicted Order Finish
1. Alamogordo
2. Deming
3. Santa Teresa
4. Chaparral
Preseason All-District
1. Dee Smith - Alamogordo
2. Joseph Ochoa - Deming
3. Rakim Stokes - Alamogordo
4. Bishop Woodruff - Alamogordo
5. Alex Villa - Deming
6. Isaac Villegas - Deming
7. Gerardo Robledo - Chaparral
District 4-5A
A district that could be considered as one of the best basketball districts (yes, not football) in the classification with four teams that could all earn a bid to the State Tournament. That's 100% in the state tournament, top to bottom, in terms of strength. Where we start is the team that has owned the district in Roswell. They have pieces to replace but still the champs look like they will continue to be at the top. Artesia, ranked 3rd in the preseason poll, will be another team that could not only be at the top of the district but in the state. They have a transfer in Bryce McAlister that is a high next level prospect. Goddard and Lovington round out the district but this could be a situation when winning at home will matter and could happen across the board. Goddard enters year three of Anthony Mestas and though they lost a college level player they return some must see players. Lovington is the dark horse in the group but watch out for a defensive shift they showed this summer.
Predicted Order of Finish
1. Roswell
2. Artesia
3. Goddard
4. Lovington
Preseason All-District
1. Bryce McAlister - Artesia
2. Chris Mesquita - Roswell
3. Dalin Stanford - Goddard
4. Garret Smothermon - Roswell
5. LeAnthoney Harrison - Goddard
6. Taylor Null - Artesia
7. Ethan Duff - Artesia
8. Devon Torres - Artesia
District 5-5A
We just mentioned top to bottom one of the best districts. Well, this one might not be 100% all teams receiving a bid into the state tournament but would be surprised if 4/5 made the New Mexico State Tournament. Los Lunas returns with one of most talented teams in New Mexico in terms of depth and ranked preseason number one. Grants who had success last season reaching the Final Four will have one of the top players in 5A returning in Matt Vail. Belen the team that could have one of the better turn around teams that reaches the Elite Eight has some talent. St. Pius X, is the head scratcher but have to replace one of the best players from last season. Valencia, has to play in one of the toughest districts.
Predicted Order of Finish
1. Los Lunas
2. Grants
3. Belen
4. St. Pius X
5. Valencia
Preseason All-District
1. Matt Vail - Grants
2. Kayden Walker - Los Lunas
3. Martin Trujillo - Los Lunas
4. Zanen Zeller - Los Lunas
5. Brennan Myers - St. Pius X
6. Nicholas Trujillo
7. Hunter Wisneski - Los Lunas
8. Andres Lucero - Valencia
