Prep Hoops New Mexico: Preseason 4A All-State Team Predictions

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The New Mexico High School Coaches Association are the ones who select and determine the Boys All-State Teams. They have been doing this since 2009, Athletes are first nominated by their head coach and ranked by all head coaches in that respective classification. There is a First Team All-State and a Second Team All-State consisting of eight players each. There are sixteen total players selected from both teams consisting of Guards, Forwards and Centers. This article will give our predictions for the All-State Teams, The 4A Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator {"className":"is-style-wide"} --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide"/> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>4A Player of the Year: <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1076702' first='Shane' last='Douma-Sanchez']</strong> (Del Norte).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coach of the Year: <strong>Justin Woody</strong> (Highland).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Defensive Player of the Year: <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1445839' first='Brian' last='Kalb']</strong> (St.Pius X).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator {"className":"is-style-wide"} --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide"/> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>First Team All-State:</strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Guard: <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1076702' first='Shane' last='Douma-Sanchez'] </strong>(Del Norte)- This will be the fourth season for <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1076702' first='Shane' last='Douma-Sanchez']</strong> on the Del Norte Knights. He comes into his senior year already with one State Championship. He is arguably the best player in New Mexico and the favorite to win the 4A Player of the Year award. Shane has been selected to First Team All-State the last two seasons.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Guard:<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1485758' first='Alexis' last='Dominguez']</strong> (Highland)- The Highland Star emerged as one of the state's top Point Guard's last year. He was the floor general on the State Champion Highland Hornets and was selected to the All-State Teams the last two seasons. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Forward:<strong> Joe Jack </strong>"Albuquerque Academy"- Joe Jack played a big role in Albuquerque Academy winning their 4A-District 6 Title last season. He comes into this season as one of the best forwards in the 4A Class. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Forward:<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1076720' first='Ali' last='Abdullah']</strong> "Valencia"- The top player on the Valencia Jaguars. This squad will surprise people in the 4A Class and will be led by their Star Forward<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1076720' first='Ali' last='Abdullah']</strong>. He is a skilled athletic scoring Forward that can play the five. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Center:<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1445839' first='Brian' last='Kalb']</strong> "St.Pius X"- The St.Pius X big man comes into this season as the top Center in the 4A Class and arguably the top Center in New Mexico. Brian makes the most of his size on both sides of the floor and could have a career year for the Sartans as a senior. They'll be in the mix for a 4A State Championship again this year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Guard: <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1208047' first='Nick' last='Sanchez'] </strong>"Artesia"- The senior Guard for Artesia was selected to Second Team All-State as a sophomore and was selected to First Team All-State last season as a junior. He continues to get better each year, and theirs great optimism he'll make All-State again this year as a senior. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Forward:<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1208052' first='Kellan' last='Gehres']</strong> "Albuquerque Academy"- [player_tooltip player_id='1208052' first='Kellan' last='Gehres'] was the best player on the Albuquerque Academy Chargers last season. He helped the Chargers win nine of their last ten games, win their district title and make it to the second round of the playoffs. [player_tooltip player_id='1208052' first='Kellan' last='Gehres'] was selected to First Team All-State last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Center: <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1507055' first='Daemon' last='Ely']</strong> "Taos"- The Taos Star was a near double-double machine last year for the Tigers. He averaged about 15 points per game and over 8 rebounds per game while leading the Tigers to the #2 seed in the 4A State Tournament last year. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1507055' first='Daemon' last='Ely']</strong> was selected to Second Team-All State last season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator {"className":"is-style-wide"} --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide"/> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em><strong>Second Team All-State:</strong></em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Guard: <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1547736' first='Derek' last='Sanchez']</strong> "Pojoaque Valley"- Last season, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1547736' first='Derek' last='Sanchez']</strong> was among one of the best scorers in New Mexico averaging just under 19 points per game. He was selected to Second Team All-State last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Guard:<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1300383' first='Niko' last='Garcia']</strong> "Los Alamos"- The Los Alamos Guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1300383' first='Niko' last='Garcia']</strong> had a solid sophomore year for the Hilltoppers a season ago. He led the team in scoring averaging about 13 points per game and led Los Alamos to the 4A State Tournament. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Forward: <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1280521' first='Davion' last='Smith']</strong> "Mayfield"-<strong> [player_tooltip player_id='1280521' first='Davion' last='Smith']</strong> from Mayfield had a nice junior year for the Trojans. He was the team's leading scorer and rebounder last season. <strong>Davion </strong>averaged over 12 points per game and over 5 rebounds per game. This team just missed the playoffs last season and expect them to be in the mix this year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Forward: <strong>Jerrick Mendoza</strong> "Goddard"- The Goddard junior had an impressive sophomore year last year. <strong>Jerrick </strong>was the team's second leading scorer who averaged just under 10 points per game and was light's out shooter making 37% of his three's. Expect him to emerge as the team's leading scorer this season while making the playoffs again. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Center: <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1234593' first='Roman' last='Hileman']</strong> "Del Norte"- The Del Norte big man will have an increased role this season after the Knights lost some key players this past off-season. Expect the big man's production to increase scoring and rebounding the ball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Guard: <strong>Jordi Rojo</strong> "Belen"- The Belen Point Guard made a name for himself last season by helping the Eagles reach the 4A State Semifinals a season ago. He will be the floor general again this year and will be asked to produce more while being the leader of this team. He'll be up for the task while helping Belen remain in the mix in the 4A Class this year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Guard: <strong>Raul Standford</strong> "Highland"- The Highland Guard is coming off winning a State Championship with the Hornets last season. He is a fantastic defender and three-point shooter for the Hornets. <strong>Raul Standford</strong> will be a difference make just like last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Forward:<strong> Fernando Hernandez</strong> "Highland"- The Hornets Forward will play the four and the five this season. He is a versatile big that can play on the perimeter on both sides of the floor. Expect him to do all the dirty work for the Hornets this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator {"className":"is-style-wide"} --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide"/> <!-- /wp:separator -->