Picking 5A In Our Crystal Ball
Joshua J Grine
Today, we take a swirl around the off-season and what to look forward to next season. Please don't miss a beat this off-season as the NMPreps.com team will travel to Team Camps, release stories and have more rankings
Final Four Predictions In April
Los Lunas Tigers (2015/2016 Record: 21-10) - The Tigers will be the favorite to most people who watch and cover 5A basketball. We won't disagree, argue or debate that topic unless you think they won't reach the Final Four. I will keep in short and sweet. They return four Top 100 players, head coach Travis Julian is Top-4 top coaches in 5A basketball and they won't have to live on an activity bus in 2017 (new district helps).
Projected Seed: 1-seed.
Crystal Ball: Beat 16 seed by 30, easily beat a project 8-seed and head to Final Four.
Farmington Scorpions (2015/2016 Record: 23-5) - Right now they look to be the clear favorite to win District 1-5A. The big question is do they shake the early upset from the 2016 State Tournament? Prediction says yes they do. Why? The program continues to excel under head coach Paul Corley with back-to-back 20 win seasons. They have improved each season from 15 wins in 2014, 20 in 2015 and 23 last season. The return 6-foot-7 post David Riley and could be the in the 3-5 seed range again.
Projected Seed: 2-seed.
Crystal Ball: Struggle but beat 15-seed. Have a quick turnaround beating 7 seed.
Alamogordo Tigers (2015/2016 Record: 9-19) - A 9-win team in the Final Four? Okay maybe not the fan pick on this one and we might be reechoing just a tad on this pick. First they hired a two-time state champion head coach in bring Brian Shock from Cliff High School. Next, I think we have the NMP Nation agreement that the athletes are there and they have widely underachieved. Three more reasons we like them - Bishop Woodruff, Dee Smith and Rakim Stokes - will be in the running for several 5A awards and recognition when we return in the fall. Still need another reason? They now play in a district 3-5A with Chaparral, Deming and Santa Teresa. Only Santa Teresa has had real success in the past 5-years.
Projected Seed: 5-seed.
Crystal Ball: Beat 12-seed and upset 4-seed.
Goddard Rockets (2015/2016 Record: 16-12) - Okay, outside of Los Lunas many of you are ready to hit the reply button, you know who you are (insert your username here). So why are we high on the Rockets? Roswell lost Daniel Amador, Rockets return a 1-2 punch in LeAnthoney Harrison and Dalin Stanford along with the third Top 100 player in Cal Villareal. This team will be a 20-win team and make a deep run.
Projected Seed: 3-seed.
Crystal Ball: Handle 14-seed and overcome a tough 6-seed.
Who We Could Have Picked
Capital Jaguars - Jeremy Anaya's time to shine.
Espanola Valley Sundevils - Does the dust settle in the Valley for the defending champs?
Grants Pirates - Matt Vail is the face of the program now.
Roswell Coyotes - Don't be shocked if they win it all - Garrett Smothermon and Chris Mesquita are solid.
The Team That Could Be The Surprise Jump To Stardom
Belen Eagles - I think their time is coming, I wouldn't be shocked.
St. Pius X Sartans - Head coach Segura is always a threat.
Kirtland Central Broncos - Welcome to 5A (again). Dowdy could be the name to reckon with.
More Spring/Summer Basketball on NMPreps.com
Grine: Is Carlsbad the 2017 Favorite To Win The Title?
New Mexico Travel Teams
Top Returning Point Guards in 2016/2017
2016 NMPreps.com Basketball Awards
Joshua J Grine
Today, we take a swirl around the off-season and what to look forward to next season. Please don't miss a beat this off-season as the NMPreps.com team will travel to Team Camps, release stories and have more rankings
Final Four Predictions In April
Los Lunas Tigers (2015/2016 Record: 21-10) - The Tigers will be the favorite to most people who watch and cover 5A basketball. We won't disagree, argue or debate that topic unless you think they won't reach the Final Four. I will keep in short and sweet. They return four Top 100 players, head coach Travis Julian is Top-4 top coaches in 5A basketball and they won't have to live on an activity bus in 2017 (new district helps).
Projected Seed: 1-seed.
Crystal Ball: Beat 16 seed by 30, easily beat a project 8-seed and head to Final Four.
Farmington Scorpions (2015/2016 Record: 23-5) - Right now they look to be the clear favorite to win District 1-5A. The big question is do they shake the early upset from the 2016 State Tournament? Prediction says yes they do. Why? The program continues to excel under head coach Paul Corley with back-to-back 20 win seasons. They have improved each season from 15 wins in 2014, 20 in 2015 and 23 last season. The return 6-foot-7 post David Riley and could be the in the 3-5 seed range again.
Projected Seed: 2-seed.
Crystal Ball: Struggle but beat 15-seed. Have a quick turnaround beating 7 seed.
Alamogordo Tigers (2015/2016 Record: 9-19) - A 9-win team in the Final Four? Okay maybe not the fan pick on this one and we might be reechoing just a tad on this pick. First they hired a two-time state champion head coach in bring Brian Shock from Cliff High School. Next, I think we have the NMP Nation agreement that the athletes are there and they have widely underachieved. Three more reasons we like them - Bishop Woodruff, Dee Smith and Rakim Stokes - will be in the running for several 5A awards and recognition when we return in the fall. Still need another reason? They now play in a district 3-5A with Chaparral, Deming and Santa Teresa. Only Santa Teresa has had real success in the past 5-years.
Projected Seed: 5-seed.
Crystal Ball: Beat 12-seed and upset 4-seed.
Goddard Rockets (2015/2016 Record: 16-12) - Okay, outside of Los Lunas many of you are ready to hit the reply button, you know who you are (insert your username here). So why are we high on the Rockets? Roswell lost Daniel Amador, Rockets return a 1-2 punch in LeAnthoney Harrison and Dalin Stanford along with the third Top 100 player in Cal Villareal. This team will be a 20-win team and make a deep run.
Projected Seed: 3-seed.
Crystal Ball: Handle 14-seed and overcome a tough 6-seed.
Who We Could Have Picked
Capital Jaguars - Jeremy Anaya's time to shine.
Espanola Valley Sundevils - Does the dust settle in the Valley for the defending champs?
Grants Pirates - Matt Vail is the face of the program now.
Roswell Coyotes - Don't be shocked if they win it all - Garrett Smothermon and Chris Mesquita are solid.
The Team That Could Be The Surprise Jump To Stardom
Belen Eagles - I think their time is coming, I wouldn't be shocked.
St. Pius X Sartans - Head coach Segura is always a threat.
Kirtland Central Broncos - Welcome to 5A (again). Dowdy could be the name to reckon with.
More Spring/Summer Basketball on NMPreps.com
Grine: Is Carlsbad the 2017 Favorite To Win The Title?
New Mexico Travel Teams
Top Returning Point Guards in 2016/2017
2016 NMPreps.com Basketball Awards
