Cameron's Point Guard Evaluations & Analysis

With the upcoming High School regular season approaching, we take a look at some of the states top point guards heading into the 2022-23 year.     [player_tooltip player_id='1076702' first='Shane' last='Douma-Sanchez'] is heading into the 2022-23 regular season as a senior this year and has had a remarkable high school career up to this point. This will be his fourth year on varsity and the development in his game since his freshman year has been fun to watch. Shane has led Del Norte to the State Tournament in all of his first three years and looks to do it one more time before graduation. He became a State Champion in 2021 during his sophomore year and led the Knights back to the State Championship game again as a junior last season. Shane has quickly become one of the states top players over the last few years and heads into his senior year at the top of his '23 Class. He is a scoring machine that can get in the zone in a second. Shane averaged about 26 points per game his sophomore year and an amazing 20 points per game as a junior after coming off a serious knee injury. Throughout his entire high school career he has averaged about 18 points per game but is an underrated play-maker that can set up his teammates.    Atrisco Heritage Point Guard Chris Parra is poised for a breakout season for the Jaguars this upcoming season. Chris is another player in the 2023 Class that will be making his fourth season on the varsity program. He is another player I've covered since his freshman year and have seen so much growth in his game over the last few years. Chris has helped Atrisco Heritage remain a power-house basketball program in the 5A Class during his high school career. He has made the State Tournament every single season in his High School career and has been the Jaguars starting point guard the last three years. His leadership and play has helped the Jaguars make the final four in the 5A State Semifinals the last two seasons. Chris is a consistent shooter from outside and one of the best play-makers in the state of New Mexico.    If I could use only one word to describe Highland's Point Guard [player_tooltip player_id='1485758' first='Alexis' last='Dominguez'], the word would be "Winner". Alexis is another '23 player who will be heading into his fourth season on the varsity roster. [player_tooltip player_id='1485758' first='Alexis' last='Dominguez'] and the Highland Hornets have experienced a lot of success together. Over his three season's with Highland, they have a record of 54-18 with him on the roster. They have made the State Playoffs every season with Alexis and been to two State Championship games. This past season he helped Highland win their first State Championship in a long time. Alexis was the team's second leading scorer who averaged 13 points per game and their leading passer who averaged 5 assists per game last year. Over the course of the summer, Alexis has become one of the states best three-point shooters and remained one of the states top floor generals. He is a super competitive player that plays hard for four quarters every game he plays.    Its hard to believe that [player_tooltip player_id='1176301' first='Latavious' last='Morris'] is only a sophomore going into this upcoming season this fall. He is a scoring first point guard that can get buckets from anywhere on the floor. Latavious is a dangerous athletic Point Guard that is lethal in the open floor on the fast break. He has incredible finishing ability around the rim and has a reliable mid-range jumper. He had many big moments as a freshman last year under the brightest of lights, and helped Atrisco Heritage Academy come within one win of the State Championship Game last season.    [player_tooltip player_id='1208047' first='Nick' last='Sanchez'] has been a player that always produces consistently for Artesia High School. Even as a sophomore he played a big role in helping his school reach the 4A State Championship game vs Del Norte. This past season as a junior, he was the best player on Artesia who again made the 4A State Playoffs and finished with a 17-12 record last year. They made it to the 4A State Quarterfinals and [player_tooltip player_id='1208047' first='Nick' last='Sanchez'] showed he can be the best player on a winning basketball team. He is a crafty guard that can score and distribute the ball for his teammates. I expect his senior year to be the best season of his high school career.    [player_tooltip player_id='1390831' first='D'shaun' last='Vinyard'] has been on Magdalena's basketball program the last three years and will be making his fourth this upcoming season. He is a Two-Time Back to Back State Champions with Magdalena and he showed out on the biggest stage last year in the championship game vs Elida. He scored a game high 30 points and recorded a double-double with 10 rebounds. Over the course of his junior year, he averaged about 17 points per game and 6 rebounds and Magdalena's second scoring option. Going into this season, D'Shaun will be the primary scoring option and could become one of the states leading scorers this season with more touches.    [player_tooltip player_id='1076706' first='Ely' last='Lovato'] was Sandia's team MVP last year in my opinion and I expect him to be that once again this season. With some of their best players out of the lineup at times last year, it was [player_tooltip player_id='1076706' first='Ely' last='Lovato'] who kept the team afloat and in the mix throughout the season. Ely was the teams second leading scorer averaging about 13 points per game but was the teams leader in total points last year. Ely is a bigger point guard that is much stronger than most of his match-ups, which gives him an advantage when taking it to the rim. He also has some of the best handles and crossovers among players in New Mexico. He makes the Sandia Matadors a dangerous and a dark-horse team to win the 5A State Championship this year.    [player_tooltip player_id='1300481' first='Gabe' last='Trujillo'] had a solid freshman season for West Mesa High School. Throughout this summer and off-season, Gabe stayed in the gym and got better every single day working on his game. He impressed myself and many around the community with his ability to hold his own against experienced varsity players from across the state. He is a scoring first point guard that makes him difficult to game-plan against. He can shoot from outside and create his own shot off the dribble than get his teammates involved off a drive and kick. He recently transferred to Valley High School and I expect him to have a breakout season for the Vikings.    Its hard for me to agree with the latest 2023 rankings and say that their is twenty-four players currently better than St.Michael's [player_tooltip player_id='1301617' first='Adam' last='Montoya']. He was the captain of a team that made it to the 3A State Championship game last season vs Robertson. Over the course of every season he's played, Adam has gotten better every season. He has been a part of their varsity program since his freshman year and has received offers from Northern New Mexico, Barry University, and Grace Christian University. Adam has a nice game at the point guard position and is poised to help the Horsemen run things back in 2023.    One of the players I'm most excited to watch this upcoming year is Volcano Vista's [player_tooltip player_id='1176305' first='Hudson' last='Brown']. What separates him from other point guards and players in his Class, is his basketball IQ. Hudson is definitely ahead of many in his Class with his decision making and his experience in playing in big games last year. Last season as a freshman, Hudson was a part of Volcano Vista's 5A State Championship team which became the second in school history and the first since 2017. I was blown away by his effort on both ends of the floor especially on the defensive end. Hudson doesn't back down from any challenges. He made a big impact last season and this past summer by becoming the new starting point guard for the future.    La Cueva's [player_tooltip player_id='1208049' first='Josiah' last='Guliford'] is one of my favorite point guard to cover in New Mexico. He plays the game and the point guard position the right way for the La Cueva Bears. Josiah is a traditional point guard who is a second coach on the floor that makes his teammates better. Despite being a traditional point guard, Josiah can shoot the ball really well from outside. He is also no easy player to score on defensively by doing a great job moving his feet and staying in front of his opposition.    West Mesa's Donovan Cruz is a Point Guard that every basketball program would want but would hate to go up against. He affects the game in many ways such as being a knock down outside shooter, play-maker and a defensive stopper on the floor. Him and the West Mesa Mustangs made the 5A State Tournament last season for the first time since the 2017-18 season. They were a program making the right steps in the right direction, and with a few nice transfers this past summer, the WM Mustangs look like potential title contenders for this season. Donovan looked impressive throughout the summer with his new teammates and will be a point guard to keep your eyes on this season.    Jordi Rojo from Belen High School had a fantastic sophomore season for the Eagles last year. Very few people saw them having the season they had a year ago reaching the 4A State Semifinals and taking the defending 4A State Champions at the time to an overtime game. That was the story of Jordi and the Eagles all season though, proving people wrong all year. Throughout the summer, Jordi showed he can be a championship level point guard on a winning basketball program. He just outworks you and gets to his spots on the floor. Jordi has played with more confidence and agression since the start of last year and that should make opposing guards and coaches worry for this upcoming year.

With the upcoming High School regular season approaching, we take a look at some of the states top point guards heading into the 2022-23 year.