Sidelines: 50 Days of Basketball
Joshua J. Grine of NMPreps.com
With very few games on slate this week, I take a few minutes to recapture the first 50 days of the basketball season.
Ranking The Teams We Have Seen In Person
(Not Official NMPreps.com Rankings; Just Teams We've Seen)
We have seen 20 teams (several twice) in 50 days of basketball.
1. Valley: Offensively and athletically we like them.
2. Cleveland: Athletes and Strength.
3. Onate (Twice): McCants is good and Chemistry is high.
4. Rio Rancho (Twice): Hurt and Patterson playing well, third part of trio will get better.
5. Carlsbad: Calm and collective even if down. Solid defensive team.
6. Grants: Some weapons, good press.
7. Capital: Coca is a sound player, coach manages the game well.
8. Gallup (Twice): I like them more than I did. Lowely is solid.
9. Pojoaque Valley (Twice): 4A team with a good core. Garcia can shoot.
10. Hope: Leake can get to the rim, supporting players not as strong this season.
11. Los Lunas (Twice): One of the best, young, rosters (2016-2017 favorite rosters).
12. Mayfield (Twice): Another roster of unknowns that could develop well under Keys.
13. Artesia (Twice): No basketball legs yet, have a hole to get out of but will be right there.
14. Goddard (Twice): No Wade when we seen 'em but this will be a tough 9-16 seed.
16. Del Norte: Guard led team that plays fearless.
17. Chaparral (Twice): This program is looking like a program. Year away but Amaya was quality player.
18. Albuquerque Academy: Might be lacking the athletes this season but well coached.
19. Clovis: The program has taken some hits. Experience low, 'hoopers' low.
20. Santa Fe Indian: Run and Gun and fire from three.
Coaches Round Table
Mike Mondragon - Artesia HC - The Bulldogs head coach took the time to treat us well. Sat talked hoops, New Mexico hoops. First class. Made sure we had what we needed. Plus I got one of my favorite things that coaches used to do when we attend games - a T-Shirt from the tournament. (Honestly, love T-Shirts from programs)
Travis Julian and Los Lunas staff - A program that promotes their athletes right. We appreciate the shoutout for having us in Los Lunas.
John Zumbrun - Carlsbad HC - Took the time to talk basketball with me. Enjoyed my first time meeting a coach who loves this game and being a leader. I could sit for days just discussing hoops with him. Loves this game.
William Keys - Mayfield HC - Another coach we got to meet and sit down with. Shared vision and first weeks as a head coach. Going to do big things for the Trojans.
Brian Smith (Cleveland) and Joseph Sanchez (Grants) - Taking the time to come say hi and how we are doing goes a long way in my book. Some coaches are just first class.
Joey Trujillo - Pojoaque Valley - Spent time talking with us in Artesia. Another coach that I could sit for hours just talking hoops or anything. He loves all aspects of the game.
Jason Kampsky - Ruidoso - Young coach that will have Ruidoso girl's program on the right path. Another coach that cares about the right things in basketball. Enjoyed my time talking with him in Artesia.
Plenty of other coaches that call or text to just talk hoops. Honestly my days are great from all four corners of the state. Some great men out there who coach basketball. Keep 'em coming.
Others on the Sideline
Met the Espanola Valley based radio station, great guy. Carlsbad radio guy. I had a great time just chatting with him as he called a game. Artesia radio is top notch, I really enjoy their passion. Grants newspaper has some of the hardest working guys for their program, reminds me of the Hobbs Sports Guy. My adopted home of Valencia (even thought they have new guys from my time coaching there) has a newspaper in VC- News bulletin that goes above like the Grants Guys.
Others include officials that also take time to talk hoops in Artesia, Metro area and others along the way. Have sat down with five or six.
Ranking The Venues
1. Artesia: Coaches dream facility.
2. Santa Fe Indian Pavilion: Beauty of a gym.
3. Cleveland Gym: Wow.
4. Los Lunas: The renovations are sweet.
5. Albuquerque Academy: Little gem (yes gem) that I love seeing games in. Support staff was great!
Extras: The Basketball Junkies/Fanatics
Northwest area has a solid basketball mind. Dude is a great source for hoops.
Santa Fe has a basketball junkie that I like chatting with.
Artesia from fans to administration are ranked among the best.
Joshua J. Grine of NMPreps.com
With very few games on slate this week, I take a few minutes to recapture the first 50 days of the basketball season.
Ranking The Teams We Have Seen In Person
(Not Official NMPreps.com Rankings; Just Teams We've Seen)
We have seen 20 teams (several twice) in 50 days of basketball.
1. Valley: Offensively and athletically we like them.
2. Cleveland: Athletes and Strength.
3. Onate (Twice): McCants is good and Chemistry is high.
4. Rio Rancho (Twice): Hurt and Patterson playing well, third part of trio will get better.
5. Carlsbad: Calm and collective even if down. Solid defensive team.
6. Grants: Some weapons, good press.
7. Capital: Coca is a sound player, coach manages the game well.
8. Gallup (Twice): I like them more than I did. Lowely is solid.
9. Pojoaque Valley (Twice): 4A team with a good core. Garcia can shoot.
10. Hope: Leake can get to the rim, supporting players not as strong this season.
11. Los Lunas (Twice): One of the best, young, rosters (2016-2017 favorite rosters).
12. Mayfield (Twice): Another roster of unknowns that could develop well under Keys.
13. Artesia (Twice): No basketball legs yet, have a hole to get out of but will be right there.
14. Goddard (Twice): No Wade when we seen 'em but this will be a tough 9-16 seed.
16. Del Norte: Guard led team that plays fearless.
17. Chaparral (Twice): This program is looking like a program. Year away but Amaya was quality player.
18. Albuquerque Academy: Might be lacking the athletes this season but well coached.
19. Clovis: The program has taken some hits. Experience low, 'hoopers' low.
20. Santa Fe Indian: Run and Gun and fire from three.
Coaches Round Table
Mike Mondragon - Artesia HC - The Bulldogs head coach took the time to treat us well. Sat talked hoops, New Mexico hoops. First class. Made sure we had what we needed. Plus I got one of my favorite things that coaches used to do when we attend games - a T-Shirt from the tournament. (Honestly, love T-Shirts from programs)
Travis Julian and Los Lunas staff - A program that promotes their athletes right. We appreciate the shoutout for having us in Los Lunas.
John Zumbrun - Carlsbad HC - Took the time to talk basketball with me. Enjoyed my first time meeting a coach who loves this game and being a leader. I could sit for days just discussing hoops with him. Loves this game.
William Keys - Mayfield HC - Another coach we got to meet and sit down with. Shared vision and first weeks as a head coach. Going to do big things for the Trojans.
Brian Smith (Cleveland) and Joseph Sanchez (Grants) - Taking the time to come say hi and how we are doing goes a long way in my book. Some coaches are just first class.
Joey Trujillo - Pojoaque Valley - Spent time talking with us in Artesia. Another coach that I could sit for hours just talking hoops or anything. He loves all aspects of the game.
Jason Kampsky - Ruidoso - Young coach that will have Ruidoso girl's program on the right path. Another coach that cares about the right things in basketball. Enjoyed my time talking with him in Artesia.
Plenty of other coaches that call or text to just talk hoops. Honestly my days are great from all four corners of the state. Some great men out there who coach basketball. Keep 'em coming.
Others on the Sideline
Met the Espanola Valley based radio station, great guy. Carlsbad radio guy. I had a great time just chatting with him as he called a game. Artesia radio is top notch, I really enjoy their passion. Grants newspaper has some of the hardest working guys for their program, reminds me of the Hobbs Sports Guy. My adopted home of Valencia (even thought they have new guys from my time coaching there) has a newspaper in VC- News bulletin that goes above like the Grants Guys.
Others include officials that also take time to talk hoops in Artesia, Metro area and others along the way. Have sat down with five or six.
Ranking The Venues
1. Artesia: Coaches dream facility.
2. Santa Fe Indian Pavilion: Beauty of a gym.
3. Cleveland Gym: Wow.
4. Los Lunas: The renovations are sweet.
5. Albuquerque Academy: Little gem (yes gem) that I love seeing games in. Support staff was great!
Extras: The Basketball Junkies/Fanatics
Northwest area has a solid basketball mind. Dude is a great source for hoops.
Santa Fe has a basketball junkie that I like chatting with.
Artesia from fans to administration are ranked among the best.
