5A Boys State Tournament Preview
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The New Mexico High School Basketball State Tournament starts this Saturday March 5th, and this article will go over the Boys 5A Bracket consisting of 16 teams and 8 matchups. The First Round is Saturday March 5th, the Quarterfinals are…
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Continue ReadingThe New Mexico High School Basketball State Tournament starts this Saturday March 5th, and this article will go over the Boys 5A Bracket consisting of 16 teams and 8 matchups. The First Round is Saturday March 5th, the Quarterfinals are Wednesday March 9th, the Semifinals are Friday March 11th, and the Championship games are Saturday March 12th.
#1 Las Cruces vs #16 Albuquerque
The Las Cruces Bulldawgs finished the regular season at 28-0, district champions by going 12-0 in district play and winning their district tournament. They were rewarded the #1 overall seed in this year’s 5A State tournament. They were led by star duo Isaiah Carr Isaiah Carr 6'11" | C Las Cruces | 2022 State NM and William Benjamin Jr. William was one of New Mexico’s leaders in scoring averaging 26.1 points per game this season and Isaiah Carr Isaiah Carr 6'11" | C Las Cruces | 2022 State NM averaging a double-double of 18.6 points per game and 10.6 rebounds this season. Kaden Self Kaden Self 6'6" | PF Las Cruces | 2022 State NM averaged 10.5 points per game and David Cruz David Cruz 5'9" | CG Las Cruces | 2024 NM averaged 7.9 points with his elite three-point shooting. Las Cruces is the team to beat in this year’s tournament. Albuquerque went 11-15 this season, 5-5 in district play and secured the 16th seed in this year’s state tournament. They were led by one of the top players in New Mexico, Marquez King. Sophomore Isaiah Maldonado also made a huge impact with his scoring and three-point shooting.
#8 Santa Fe vs #9 Sandia
Santa Fe went 22-5 in the regular season, went 8-2 in district play and finished second in district. They also made it to the district championship game vs Los Lunas. They were led by Paul Lovato Paul Lovato 6'3" | SF Santa Fe | 2022 State NM , Carlos Quinatana and Elefio Benavidez. They will be a tough matchup for Sandia in the first round of state. Sandia was one of the top contenders and favorites coming into the season and started to play like it toward the end of the season. Sandia went 17-9 this season and 8-2 in district. Sean Johnson Sean Johnson 6'6" | SF Sandia | 2022 State NM led the team in scoring averaging 17.1 points per game, Ely Lovato Ely Lovato 6'2" | CG Sandia | 2023 State NM averaged 12.8 points and Andrew Hill Andrew Hill 6'2" | CG Sandia | 2023 State NM averaged 11.8 this season. The teams biggest X-Factor is Dalen Moyer Dalen Moyer 6'0" | CG Sandia | 2023 State NM who is capable of leading the team in scoring any night. Sandia is a team no one wants to face this tournament.
#5 Atrisco Heritage vs #12 Eldorado
Atrisco Heritage is one of the few dark horses in this year’s tournament that can win the 5A State Championship. They went 18-8 this season and played in the toughest district in the 5A Class. They are led by their two seniors Colby Wade Colby Wade 6'5" | PF Atrisco | 2022 State NM and Javier Mendoza Javier Mendoza 5'11" | SG Atrisco Heritage | 2022 State NM who were their two leading scorers this season. They’re also led by floor general Chris Parra Jr., who provides elite scoring, limitless shooting and brings playmaking to the floor. Tony Pacheco Tony Pacheco 6'0" | SF Atrisco Heritage | 2023 State NM brings leadership, toughness and his heart to this team and leaves everything out on the floor. Freshman Latavious Morris Latavious Morris 5'8" | PG Atrisco Heritage | 2025 State NM has had as big of an impact as any freshman in the state this season and was selected to the all-district team this season. Eldorado went 13-14 this season and played in one of the toughest districts as well so they’re better than what their record actually says. This team is led by Tyler Heckroth Tyler Heckroth 6'2" | SG Eldorado | 2022 State NM who is one of the top-rated players in New Mexico.
#4 Hobbs vs #13 Farmington
Hobbs went 25-2 this season and is one of the early favorites to bring home the 5A state championship. They were led by one of the top duos in the state, Jalen Goar Jalen Goar 5'11" | CG Hobbs | 2022 State NM and Aaron Mora Aaron Mora 6'6" | PF Hobbs | 2022 State NM . Jalen Goar Jalen Goar 5'11" | CG Hobbs | 2022 State NM was one of the top scorers this season averaging 19.8 points per game this season. Aaron Mora Aaron Mora 6'6" | PF Hobbs | 2022 State NM averaged a double-double averaging 19.5 points per game and 10.2 rebounds this season. Farmington went 20-8 this season in a tough district and secured the 13th seed in this year’s tournament. They were led by Cayden Yazzie who averaged 12.3 points per game and their second leading scorer Cody Vassar-Steen Cody Vassar-Steen 6'2" | PG Farmington | 2024 State NM 12.2 points per game.
#3 La Cueva vs #14 West Mesa
The La Cueva Bears were 22-3 this season, went 9-1 in district play, won their district title and district tournament. They have been one of the most consistent teams since the beginning of the season and will be one of the favorites to win this state tournament. The La Cueva Bears were led by Exodus Ayers Exodus Ayers 6'2" | CG La Cueva | 2023 NLG who averaged 16.4 points per game this season. They have one of the deepest rosters in NM. Gabriel Trujillo averaged 12.6 points per game, Cedarius Yates Cedarius Yates 6'3" | SF La Cueva | 2023 State NM averaged 11.9 points per game and saw strong contributions from Josiah Guliford Josiah Guliford 5'10" | PG La Cueva | 2023 State NM and Isaiah Denetclaw Isaiah Denetclaw 6'3" | SG La Cueva | 2023 State NM from their three-point shooting. West Mesa went 11-14 this season and was led by junior star Sonny Ortiz Sonny Ortiz 6'5" | SF West Mesa | 2023 State NM who can light up the scoreboard like very few can. He is a volume shooter and has limitless range. Brandon Lagunas is there best all-around scorer from all areas of the floor. Ty Barlow Ty Barlow 6'6" | PF West Mesa | 2022 State NM is one of the most underrated big men that can stretch the floor with his shooting and is quick on his feet rebounding and shot blocking defensively. During the regular season, these two district rivals split the season series 1-1.
#6 Los Lunas vs #11 Cleveland
Los Lunas went 20-8 in the regular season, went undefeated at 10-0 in district play and won their district tournament. They were led by Freshman star Jalin Holland Jalin Holland 6'5" | SG Los Lunas | 2025 State #85 Nation NM who has quickly turned into one of the state’s top young players. Hadley Beaty Hadley Beaty 6'2" | SG Los Lunas | 2022 State NM is a consistent three-point shooter and is a solid option for Los Lunas. Jamian Perez has been their second leading scorer this season with his all-around game shooting and scoring the ball. Ezra Guest Ezra Guest 6'0" | SG Los Lunas | 2023 State NM has been very consistent this season as well. The 2021 defending state champion Cleveland Storm went 13-15 this season after having one of the toughest schedules in NM this season. Sophomore Daniel Steverson Daniel Steverson 6'2" | SG Cleveland | 2024 State #315 Nation NM became one of the top young players in NM this season. Daniel averaged 14.3 points per game this season and got better as the season went on. Antonio Avila Antonio Avila 6'2" | SF Cleveland | 2022 State NM was the team’s second leading scorer averaging 9.5 points this season. Cleveland was better than what their record said this season. This should be one of the more entertaining matchups in the first round of state.
#7 Rio Rancho vs #10 Carlsbad
Rio Rancho is one of these tournaments more underrated teams after a pretty solid regular season. Rio Rancho went 16-10 in a tough district and defeated several teams in this year’s state tournament. They were led by Keagan Caton Keagan Caton 6'5" | SF Rio Rancho | 2022 State NM who led the team in scoring averaging 16.3 points per game this season. They also were led by their other two highly rated players Jeremiah Morris and Maddox Presser Maddox Presser 6'6" | C Rio Rancho | 2023 State NM . Carlsbad went 22-6 in the regular season, went 4-2 in district play and finished 2nd in district. They were led by one of the top players in the game, Damian Perez.
#2 Volcano Vista vs #15 Organ Mountain
Volcano Vista went undefeated at 25-0 in the regular season, went undefeated in district play at 10-0 to win the district title and won their district tournament championship. They were led by District Player of the Year, Jakwon Hill Jakwon Hill 6'1" | CG Volcano Vista | 2022 State NM . Kaden Valdez Kaden Valdez 5'11" | PG Volcano Vista | 2022 State NM provided his consistent three-point shooting and scoring to compliment Jakwon. Oscar McCoy Oscar McCoy 5'8" | PG State NM was the floor general for this team and was the teams engine this year with his leadership and shooting. Jaden Malone did everything for Volcano Vista, played several positions and did everything at a high level. Sean Alter Sean Alter 6'9" | PF Volcano Vista | 2023 State NM and freshman big man Kenyon Aguino Kenyon Aguino 6'7" | PF Volcano Vista | 2025 State #257 Nation NM have been forces to be reckoned with inside the paint on both sides of the floor. Freshman Hudson Brown Hudson Brown 5'9" | PG Volcano Vista | 2025 State NM has also made an impact for this roster this season as the backup floor general to Oscar McCoy Oscar McCoy 5'8" | PG State NM . Organ Mountain went 15-14 this season, went 8-4 in district play to finish second in their district. Brandon Kehres Brandon Kehres 6'5" | PF Organ Mountain | 2024 State NM led this team in scoring averaging 17.5 points per game and 7.6 rebounds this season.