2023 Guards To Watch This Season

The Class of 2023 is loaded with great skill and talent. In this article, we break down Ten Guards to keep an eye on throughout the 2021-22 New Mexico High School Basketball season.

Shane Douma-Sanchez Shane Douma-Sanchez 6'1" | PG Del Norte | 2023 State NM – 6’0 Point Guard “Del Norte” Class of 2023

Del Norte star player Shane Douma-Sanchez Shane Douma-Sanchez 6'1" | PG Del Norte | 2023 State NM is coming off a great breakout year which led Del Norte to their first basketball state championship in school history. Over the course of a shortened regular season, he helped lead Del Norte to a 9-1 record and a district title that secured them the #1 seed in the 4A Class tournament. During the regular season, he averaged 25.6 points per game which was 5th in New Mexico, 5.1 rebounds per game, 4.9 assists per game which ranked 7th in New Mexico, and 2.2 steals per game. His all around game rewarded himself as a State Champion, the District 6-4A Player of the Year, the 4A Player of The Year, 4A State Tournament MVP, 1st Team All-District, All Metro, New Mexico Mr.Basketball and 1st Team All-State Honors. In the State Championship game vs. #2 Artesia, he totaled 23 points, five rebounds, four assists, and four steals in the biggest game of the year. Shane will be fun to watch this season.

Judah Casaus Judah Casaus 6'1" | SG ABC Prep | 2023 State NM – 6’0 Shooting Guard “Del Norte” Class of 2023

Del Norte’s other star player Judah Casaus Judah Casaus 6'1" | SG ABC Prep | 2023 State NM is one of the state’s top two way players from both sides of the ball and is arguably the best defensive player in New Mexico. His ability to guard and a matchup with any position makes his value as high as anyone in the state. Without his elite play, Del Norte doesn’t win the 4A State championship without him. This past season he averaged 13.6 points per game, 2.9 rebounds per game, 3.5 assists per game, and 2.2 steals per game. He was selected to the 4A 1st Team All-State, 1st Team All-District, 1st Team All-Metro, the All-State Tournament Team and helped lead Del Norte to their 1st State Championship in school history. In addition, he is one of the most athletic players in New Mexico and has one of the best mid-range jumpers in the game. After a busy off-season working on his game, expect another big year from Judah and the Del Norte Knights.

Nick Sanchez Nick Sanchez 5'9" | PG Artesia | 2023 State NM – 5’9 Point Guard “Artesia” Class of 2023

Nick Sanchez Nick Sanchez 5'9" | PG Artesia | 2023 State NM is on the verge of breaking out this season with his play from his sophomore year. He had an excellent year where he averaged 13 points per game, about five assists per game, and close to 3 steals per game. His play during the State tournament last season for the #2 seeded Artesia High school is where he raised some eyebrows. In the state championship versus #1 Del Norte, he scored 21 points and went 14-14 from the free-throw line. Despite losing that game, he had a spectacular season, being named to the 4A State All 2nd Team, 1st Team All-District, The All-Tournament Team, and was part of the New Comers Players of Year List. With Artesia having six players from last season graduated from high school, expect Nick Sanchez Nick Sanchez 5'9" | PG Artesia | 2023 State NM to get even more opportunities this upcoming season.

Alexis Dominguez Alexis Dominguez 5'10" | PG Highland | 2023 NM – 5’9 Point Guard “Highland” Class of 2023

Highland’s Point Guard Alexis Dominguez Alexis Dominguez 5'10" | PG Highland | 2023 NM has quickly become one of the most underrated in the Class of 2023. He is one of the best floor generals around at this position and makes players around him better. He averaged 13.5 points per game and 3.6 assists per game last season. His play helped lead Highland to win their District Title last season. His play was also rewarded him by being selected to 1st Team All-District and 2nd Team All-State. Highland has a very consistent basketball program every year and with Alexis Dominguez Alexis Dominguez 5'10" | PG Highland | 2023 NM leading as your Point Guard, this makes Highland one of the top contenders in their respective Class this upcoming season. 

Exodus Ayers Exodus Ayers 6'2" | CG La Cueva | 2023 NLG – 6’2 Combo Guard “La Cueva” Class of 2023

Exodus Ayers Exodus Ayers 6'2" | CG La Cueva | 2023 NLG is arguably the best all-around Point Guard in the state of New Mexico. He led the La Cueva Bears to an 8-2 record in a shortened regular season this past year and showed every game why he should be in the conversation as one of the state’s top players. He averaged 18.6 points per game which was 13th in New Mexico and 3rd in the class of 2023. His all-around game also saw other averages of 5.2 rebounds per game, 4.0 assists per game, and 2.0 steals per game. He was selected to the 5A All-State 2nd Team and 1st Team All-District. As the season went on, he got better and had four 20 point games vs. West Mesa twice, once vs. Sandia and one time vs. Eldorado. His best game of the season was May 1st, 2021, vs. Eldorado, where he had a season-high 29 points shooting 7/15 from the field. He also had a strong all-around performance with 8 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 steals, and shot 12/13 from the free-throw line. Expect Exodus Ayers Exodus Ayers 6'2" | CG La Cueva | 2023 NLG and the La Cueva Bears to be one of the top contenders for a championship this season. 

Isaiah Denetclaw Isaiah Denetclaw 6'3" | SG La Cueva | 2023 State NM – 6’1 Shooting Guard “La Cueva” Class of 2023

Isaiah Denetclaw Isaiah Denetclaw 6'3" | SG La Cueva | 2023 State NM has played the last two years at Volcano Vista High School but will be playing his junior season with the La Cueva Bears with a recent transfer. His ability to shoot the ball and space the floor will be a massive acquisition for the La Cueva Bears, making a push at a state championship this year. He is, without a doubt, one of the most underrated shooters in New Mexico and one of the best marksmen from the three-point line. He had several games last season where he took the game over with his shooting and gave the Volcano Vista Hawks buckets in the most crucial times of games. For example, in a game at home vs. Valley High School last season, April 10th, he scored 15 points and had 5 threes point field goals in that game. The La Cueva Bears will love what Isaiah Denetclaw Isaiah Denetclaw 6'3" | SG La Cueva | 2023 State NM brings to the table offensively and is an underrated rebounder and defender for his size at 6’1.

Kellan Gehres Kellan Gehres 6'0" | CG Albuquerque Academy | 2023 State NM – 6’0 Guard “Albuquerque Academy” Class of 2023

Kellan Gehres Kellan Gehres 6'0" | CG Albuquerque Academy | 2023 State NM from Albuquerque Academy is one of the most underrated and slept on prospects in high school basketball. Part of that reason could be that Albuquerque Academy is in the toughest district in the 4A Class that includes Bernalillo, Del Norte, Valley, and Hope Christian, which are all schools who have won state championships in recent years or have been in the running. Despite the competitive district he’s in, Kellan Gehres Kellan Gehres 6'0" | CG Albuquerque Academy | 2023 State NM held his own and averaged 15.2 points per game which ranked 8th in the 4A Class and was selected to 2nd Team All-District. He was also great and drawing contact and getting to the free-throw line, where he was a solid 81% free throw shooter and was reliable late in games. With a really young Albuquerque Academy team, expect Kellan Gehres Kellan Gehres 6'0" | CG Albuquerque Academy | 2023 State NM to help this school surprise many around the state this year. 

Tony Pacheco Tony Pacheco 6'0" | SF Atrisco Heritage | 2023 State NM – 6’1 Guard “Atrisco Heritage” Class of 2023

Tony Pacheco Tony Pacheco 6'0" | SF Atrisco Heritage | 2023 State NM from the Atrisco Heritage Jaguars is one of the state’s best two-way players from both sides of the floor. He plays for one of the state’s best basketball programs and is a team player who is super unselfish. He plays his role and, when needed to, is a great finisher around the rim and is very underrated shooter from three. In the Class of 2023, he is arguably the best leader of the bunch with his consistent communication with his teammates and holding everyone accountable on the floor, including himself. His play has had him on the varsity level since his freshman year, and his numbers continue to increase across the board. This past season, he was selected to an All-District Team and was a key contributor to Atrisco Heritage reaching the 5A state semifinals. He and teammate Chris Parra Jr., are one of the state’s most underrated backcourts and expect Tony Pacheco Tony Pacheco 6'0" | SF Atrisco Heritage | 2023 State NM to have the best season of his high school career so far this upcoming year. 

Chris Parra Jr.– 6’0 Point Guard “Atrisco Heritage,” Class of 2023

Atrisco’s Chris Parra Jr. is probably the best pure Point Guard in the state of New Mexico, and it’s hard to argue why he’s not. He was the floor general to the Atrisco Heritage Jaguars, who went 8-2 in a shortened regular season last year. His elite play-making setting up his teammates made everyone’s jobs easier with his excellent basketball IQ. His long-range shooting is unarguable, and when he gets going offensively, this makes Atrisco Heritage a hard team to beat. His play rewarded himself by making the All-District team and helped Atrisco to be the only team to beat the eventual state champion Cleveland Storm last season. Over the course of last year, we saw Chris Parra Jr. hit clutch shots in several 4th quarters late in games this past season. Since the end of the 2020 season before the Covid outbreak, we saw Chris Parra Jr. get stronger in that off-season and get better at driving to the basket to open up his three-point shooting. With their team leader, Isaiah Brooks graduated from last year, expect Chris Parra Jr. to have a breakout season this year.

Zavier Lloyd Zavier Lloyd 6'2" | SG Cibola | 2023 NM – 6’2 Guard “Cibola” Class of 2023

Cibola Guard Zavier Lloyd Zavier Lloyd 6'2" | SG Cibola | 2023 NM is one of the most underrated and slept-on Guards from the Class of 2023 with his great scoring and athletic ability offensively. Zavier Lloyd Zavier Lloyd 6'2" | SG Cibola | 2023 NM and the Cibola Cougars play in perhaps the toughest district in New Mexico, which includes Cleveland, Rio Rancho, Atrisco, and Volcano Vista. Despite playing in a tough district, Zavier Lloyd Zavier Lloyd 6'2" | SG Cibola | 2023 NM increased his numbers and play across the board and had increased playing time from his freshman year joining the starting lineup. He averaged 10.0 points per game, around 5 assists and 2 steals per game last season. With seven seniors this past year graduating, Cibola has a pretty young team ahead for this season and expect Zavier Lloyd Zavier Lloyd 6'2" | SG Cibola | 2023 NM to have his best year in high school so far this upcoming season.