ABC Back 2 School Tournament: Pool Play Standouts
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New Mexico is not normally thought of as a hotbed for hoops, however, the emergence of programs like JB White and the Albuquerque basketball club, have provided a platform to showcase the state’s hoop talent. This weekend, I was in…
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Continue ReadingNew Mexico is not normally thought of as a hotbed for hoops, however, the emergence of programs like JB White and the Albuquerque basketball club, have provided a platform to showcase the state’s hoop talent. This weekend, I was in Albuquerque checking out some of that talent, as ABC put on their Back 2 School event, which featured programs from around the Southwest. In this article, we take a look at some of the players that stood out during pool play action.
Diego Sharp Diego Sharp 6'1" | SG ABC Prep | 2022 State NM 6’1 SG Team Shock 2022 (#10PHNM 2022) – Sharp was easily the top R&J athlete at the event. He caught a sick 1 handed lob that certainly qualifies as elite level. Not normally known as a shooter, he knocked down a couple open 3’s to keep defenses honest.
Kenyon Aguino Kenyon Aguino 6'7" | PF Volcano Vista | 2025 State #257 Nation NM 6’5 PF Team Swoosh 2025 – Aguino was the top prospect at the event. The power forward has terrific feet and an advanced low post-game. He destroyed opponents with his back to the basket, showing the ability to turn over his left and right shoulder alike.
Leandro Garcia 6’1 PF SPX 2025 – Garcia may not have the prototypical basketball frame, but he’s a player. The undersized, lefty floor man, made several tough shots over defenders. He also showed better than average rim running ability as he diligently sprinted from end to end. The highlight of his game was his ability to put the ball on the floor and score. Several times the big man rumbled coast to coast, finishing with a layup.
Jonathon Lukesh Jonathon Lukesh 5'10" | SG Albuquerque | 2024 State NM 5’9 SG Blackbirds 2024 – Lukesh was one of the top slashers I saw on the weekend. He knocked down his share of 3’s, never shying away from an open look. Several times he showed that he was more than just a shooter, as he was able to slash to the bucket as well.
Anthony Xia SG NM Rebels 2023 – Every time I looked up, Xia was either at the rim or the free-throw line. An aggressive head-down player, the skilled wing was able to slash his way time and time again to the basket to either score or draw a foul.
Rian Gonzalez SG Team Swoosh 2025 – Gonzalez was one of the main players for a good Swoosh squad that went undefeated in pool play. A sniper, he used a quick release to knock down open 3’s, playing the role of zone buster in the game I saw.