NMPreps.com Team Rankings - Week One (11/25-30)
5A BASKETBALL
1. Atrisco Heritage
Last Season: 22-7 | State Champs
Why: Joziah Ramos (2020) has been one of the best guards to watch every March and is coming off a 24 points per game season.
2. Cleveland
Last Season: 26-7 | Final Four
Why: The Storm took the eventual state champs into overtime in the Final Four last season and although they lost two next level talents we like what they return. This team will be anchored by Clayton Watson III (2021) and Nathan Hasberry (2021) a junior combo worth the watch.
3. Las Cruces
Last Season: 28-1 | First Round
Why: Yes, the Bulldawgs are coming off a monumental first round loss as a 2-seed to a 15-seed but this team has plenty to like in returners. William 'Duece' Benjamin (2020) and Salvador Nevarez (2020) have a chance to make some noise.
4. Santa Fe
Last Season: 24-8 | State Runner Up
Why: Losing the front court and key role players will hurt this team but returning the top prospect in the state in University of New Mexico commit Fedonta 'JB' White (2021) could be enough to get them back into the PIT.
5. La Cueva
Last Season: 16-11 | First Round
Why: We expected more from the Bears last season but this should be one of their best teams since 2013. Derek Aeilts (2020) is one of the top guards in New Mexico and returns after scoring 21 points per game; he committed to St. Edwards University (Austin, TX) this summer.
6. Hobbs
7. Eldorado
8. Onate
9. Clovis
10. Rio Rancho
11. Volcano Vista
12. Capital
13. Gadsden
14. Roswell
15. Manzano
16. Albuquerque
4A BASKETBALL
1. Valley Vikings
Last Season: 17-13 | State Champions
Why: The defending state champs after their run as the 7-seed look to defend their title behind an experienced group. They return all but four players from last season. Seyi Oyeku (2020), Derick Chavez (2021), and Jevon Baker (2020) will be the go-to players.
2. Hope Christian Huskies
Last Season: 20-9 | Elite Eight
Why: The Huskies, the 2-seed in the state tournament last season are the best, most forgot about going into the season. Collin Evans (2020), Grant Ulibarri (2020) and company will guide what could be a very great HOPE CHRISTIAN type of team.
3. Gallup Bengals
Last Season: 23-7 | Elite Eight
Why: The Gallup Bengals were the best team that could but didn't last season. They have a great young head coach making waves and will have all but four returning this season. Could make a Final Four run.
4. Highland
Last Season: 15-11 | First Round
Why: The preseason bump team heading into the 2019/2020 season. Head coach Justin Woody has done a phenomenal job since taking over the Hornets program and this could be one of their best since their 2009 state runner up team. Erasmo Carreon (2020) and Raul Marquez (2020) return after scoring in double figures last year. Tommy Huynh (2020) could be the difference maker.
5. Del Norte
6. Espanola Valley
7. Los Lunas
8. Valencia
9. Artesia
10. Portales
11. Goddard
12. Taos
13. Belen
14. St. Pius X
15. Albuquerque Academy
16. Grants
3A BASKETBALL
No. 1 Hot Springs Tigers
Last Season: 27-4 | State Champions
Scoop: The Hot Springs Tigers made a run to their first state championship since Tommy Morrow led them to the 1993 title, 26 years ago. Head coach Derek Bean has built a program recently and will look to stay atop the class behind junior Verrels Lukman (2021) who led the team in scoring with 10.2 points per game as a sophomore.
No. 2 Sandia Prep Sundevils
Last Season: 20-11 | Final Four
Scoop: The talent was there last season for the Sundevils to finally take home a state championship after years sitting behind Hope Christian. Well, the Huskies are no longer here but the Sundevils ran into a well coached Tigers team in the semifinals last season. The good news is that they bring back some players that played huge roles last season - Max Feit (2020) is one.
No. 3 St. Michael's Horsemen
Last Season: 21-9 | Final Four
Scoop: The 1-seed in the state tournament last season is looking to rebound behind a younger roster after graduating eight players off of last seasons team. Thomas Wood (2020) will be the go-to player this season and you could sort of consider them an underrated favorite - a good team that has some question marks.
No. 4 Robertson Cardinals
Last Season: 16-15 | Elite Eight
Scoop: The Cardinals are the dark horse squad of the preseason as they enter the season with some hype surrounding a team that went one game above .500. The hype comes in the form of Matthew Gonzales who led the team in scoring as a freshman last season. They return a strong core from last season and could be a Final Four and more type of team.
The Rest
5. Socorro
6. West Las Vegas
7. Tularosa
8. Bosque
9. Dexter
10. Santa Fe Indian
11. Navajo Prep
12. Cuba
13. Raton
14. Wingate
15. East Mountain
16. Laguna-Acoma
5A BASKETBALL
1. Atrisco Heritage
Last Season: 22-7 | State Champs
Why: Joziah Ramos (2020) has been one of the best guards to watch every March and is coming off a 24 points per game season.
2. Cleveland
Last Season: 26-7 | Final Four
Why: The Storm took the eventual state champs into overtime in the Final Four last season and although they lost two next level talents we like what they return. This team will be anchored by Clayton Watson III (2021) and Nathan Hasberry (2021) a junior combo worth the watch.
3. Las Cruces
Last Season: 28-1 | First Round
Why: Yes, the Bulldawgs are coming off a monumental first round loss as a 2-seed to a 15-seed but this team has plenty to like in returners. William 'Duece' Benjamin (2020) and Salvador Nevarez (2020) have a chance to make some noise.
4. Santa Fe
Last Season: 24-8 | State Runner Up
Why: Losing the front court and key role players will hurt this team but returning the top prospect in the state in University of New Mexico commit Fedonta 'JB' White (2021) could be enough to get them back into the PIT.
5. La Cueva
Last Season: 16-11 | First Round
Why: We expected more from the Bears last season but this should be one of their best teams since 2013. Derek Aeilts (2020) is one of the top guards in New Mexico and returns after scoring 21 points per game; he committed to St. Edwards University (Austin, TX) this summer.
6. Hobbs
7. Eldorado
8. Onate
9. Clovis
10. Rio Rancho
11. Volcano Vista
12. Capital
13. Gadsden
14. Roswell
15. Manzano
16. Albuquerque
4A BASKETBALL
1. Valley Vikings
Last Season: 17-13 | State Champions
Why: The defending state champs after their run as the 7-seed look to defend their title behind an experienced group. They return all but four players from last season. Seyi Oyeku (2020), Derick Chavez (2021), and Jevon Baker (2020) will be the go-to players.
2. Hope Christian Huskies
Last Season: 20-9 | Elite Eight
Why: The Huskies, the 2-seed in the state tournament last season are the best, most forgot about going into the season. Collin Evans (2020), Grant Ulibarri (2020) and company will guide what could be a very great HOPE CHRISTIAN type of team.
3. Gallup Bengals
Last Season: 23-7 | Elite Eight
Why: The Gallup Bengals were the best team that could but didn't last season. They have a great young head coach making waves and will have all but four returning this season. Could make a Final Four run.
4. Highland
Last Season: 15-11 | First Round
Why: The preseason bump team heading into the 2019/2020 season. Head coach Justin Woody has done a phenomenal job since taking over the Hornets program and this could be one of their best since their 2009 state runner up team. Erasmo Carreon (2020) and Raul Marquez (2020) return after scoring in double figures last year. Tommy Huynh (2020) could be the difference maker.
5. Del Norte
6. Espanola Valley
7. Los Lunas
8. Valencia
9. Artesia
10. Portales
11. Goddard
12. Taos
13. Belen
14. St. Pius X
15. Albuquerque Academy
16. Grants
3A BASKETBALL
No. 1 Hot Springs Tigers
Last Season: 27-4 | State Champions
Scoop: The Hot Springs Tigers made a run to their first state championship since Tommy Morrow led them to the 1993 title, 26 years ago. Head coach Derek Bean has built a program recently and will look to stay atop the class behind junior Verrels Lukman (2021) who led the team in scoring with 10.2 points per game as a sophomore.
No. 2 Sandia Prep Sundevils
Last Season: 20-11 | Final Four
Scoop: The talent was there last season for the Sundevils to finally take home a state championship after years sitting behind Hope Christian. Well, the Huskies are no longer here but the Sundevils ran into a well coached Tigers team in the semifinals last season. The good news is that they bring back some players that played huge roles last season - Max Feit (2020) is one.
No. 3 St. Michael's Horsemen
Last Season: 21-9 | Final Four
Scoop: The 1-seed in the state tournament last season is looking to rebound behind a younger roster after graduating eight players off of last seasons team. Thomas Wood (2020) will be the go-to player this season and you could sort of consider them an underrated favorite - a good team that has some question marks.
No. 4 Robertson Cardinals
Last Season: 16-15 | Elite Eight
Scoop: The Cardinals are the dark horse squad of the preseason as they enter the season with some hype surrounding a team that went one game above .500. The hype comes in the form of Matthew Gonzales who led the team in scoring as a freshman last season. They return a strong core from last season and could be a Final Four and more type of team.
The Rest
5. Socorro
6. West Las Vegas
7. Tularosa
8. Bosque
9. Dexter
10. Santa Fe Indian
11. Navajo Prep
12. Cuba
13. Raton
14. Wingate
15. East Mountain
16. Laguna-Acoma
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