The Biggest Breakout Players Of The Season

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Now that the High School Basketball Season in New Mexico is at the halfway point, it's a good time to check in on some players from across the State who are having breakout years in their High School careers. Here's a list of players that have made the biggest jump from last season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1166976' first='Cody' last='Vassar-Steen']</strong> "Farmington" PG Class of 2024</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Star PG from Farmington was due for a breakout campaign this season after a stellar sophomore year. His numbers have increased from across the board while having the Scorpions playing winning basketball at this time of the season. He has solidified himself as one of the states marquee Point Guard's that is a force to be reckoned with. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:table --> <figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>Season</td><td>PPG</td><td>APG</td><td>FG%</td><td>RPG</td></tr><tr><td>Sophomore 2021-22</td><td>12.3</td><td>3.0</td><td>44%</td><td>5.0</td></tr><tr><td>Junior 2022-23</td><td>20.7</td><td>3.3</td><td>50%</td><td>4.6</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1680006' first='Jordi' last='Rojo']</strong> "Belen" PG Class of 2024</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After reaching the 4A State Semifinals in his sophomore year, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1680006' first='Jordi' last='Rojo']</strong> has taken another leap in his game this year. After losing several players from graduation last year, Jordi has become the teams captain and number one scoring option. He has been the teams most consistent player this season. He has done a great job being more aggressive this year getting more opportunities. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1680006' first='Jordi' last='Rojo']</strong> has more than doubled his points per game and is getting more opportunities at the free throw line for easy points. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:table --> <figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>Season</td><td>PPG</td><td>RPG</td><td>FTA</td><td>SPG</td></tr><tr><td>Sophomore 2021-22</td><td>7.7</td><td>2.7</td><td>69</td><td>2.0</td></tr><tr><td>Junior 2022-23</td><td>15.9</td><td>3.5</td><td>85</td><td>2.3</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1680001' first='Julian' last='Chavez']</strong> "Valley" SG/SF Class of 2024</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1680001' first='Julian' last='Chavez']</strong> has had an excellent junior year for Valley High School. After not playing much last season as a sophomore, he's stepped in and became the team's leading scorer and rebounder this year. <strong>Julian </strong>is averaging a solid 15.8 points per game and 4.8 rebounds per game for the Vikings. He is scoring with high efficiency shooting 51% from the field while making 34 three-pointers which is inside the Top 15 in New Mexico at this point. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1680001' first='Julian' last='Chavez']</strong> has also recorded five 20-point games this season and the Vikings are 6-3 when he scores at least 18 points in games this year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1680000' first='Tyler' last='Kozlowski']</strong> "Valley" SG Class of 2024</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Valley Vikings sharpshooter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1680000' first='Tyler' last='Kozlowski']</strong> is having a good junior year. After coming off the bench last season as a sophomore, he has entered the starting lineup as a junior this year and has produced significantly for the Vikings. He is the teams second leading scorer averaging 13.9 points per game and making 47 three pointers on 36% shooting from long-range. His 47 three-point field goals made are the 4th most in New Mexico as of 1/23/2023. He has become more than a three-point specialist and has proven he can create his own shot off the dribble. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1685443' first='Julian' last='Arroyo']</strong> "Lovington" PG Class of 2024</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1685443' first='Julian' last='Arroyo']</strong> showed some flashes in his sophomore year of stardom, and this year as a junior he's become a reliable Star PG for the Lovington Wildcats. He has proven to be a scoring first point guard that can put a team on his back when needed. He is a three-level scorer who can rack up points in all phases of the game. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:table --> <figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>Season</td><td>PPG</td><td>RPG</td><td>FT%</td><td>20-Point Games</td></tr><tr><td>Sophomore 2021-22</td><td>8.0</td><td>1.9</td><td>66%</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>Junior 2022-23</td><td>16.7</td><td>2.7</td><td>75%</td><td>6</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1300383' first='Niko' last='Garcia']</strong> "Los Alamos" CG Class of 2024</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1300383' first='Niko' last='Garcia']</strong> averaged just under 13 points per game as a sophomore and has increased his scoring totals to over 18 points per game this year as a junior. He has become a Top 20 scorer in New Mexico this season and ranks 18th in points per game. He has increased his rebounding and improved his free throw shooting on the floor. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1300383' first='Niko' last='Garcia']</strong> has scored 20 points on six separate occasions this year. His three-point shooting has opened up the rest of his offensive game this year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:table --> <figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>Season</td><td>PPG</td><td>RPG</td><td>FT%</td><td>3FG%</td></tr><tr><td>Sophomore 2021-22</td><td>12.9</td><td>3.8</td><td>65%</td><td>28%</td></tr><tr><td>Junior 2022-23</td><td>18.4</td><td>6.6</td><td>83%</td><td>35%</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1687821' first='Jesus' last='Licon']</strong> "Highland" SG Class of 2025</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Despite this being <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1687821' first='Jesus' last='Licon']'s</strong> first official season as a varsity starter for the Highland Hornets, he's still considered a breakout player from his jump from his freshman year. The Hornets lost arguably a top-three player in the state last year to graduation and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1687821' first='Jesus' last='Licon']</strong> has emerged as the Hornets second leading scorer behind teammate <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1485758' first='Alexis' last='Dominguez']</strong> averaging a solid 13.9 points per game. While a few members of the starting lineup missed four games in early December, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1687821' first='Jesus' last='Licon']</strong> averaged 27.2 points per game during that stretch. He is a lights-out three point shooter that has made 44 from behind the arc this season which is the 7th most in New Mexico right now. He is a player that can averaged 18-20+ points per game next season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1276347' first='David' last='Cruz']</strong> "Las Cruces" SG Class of 2023</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1276347' first='David' last='Cruz']</strong> was already known as one of the states best marksman from long-range last year, but this year he has shown the rest of the state that he can be a number one scoring option on a playoff team. After losing the two best players in New Mexico last year to graduation, the Las Cruces Bulldawgs wouldn't be in the position their in without <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1276347' first='David' last='Cruz']'s</strong> production. He averaging about 15 points per game as the Bulldawg's leading scorer after averaging 8.3 per game last year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Geleio Griego</strong> "Los Lunas" G/F Class of 2023</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Los Lunas Tiger's Senior <strong>Geleio Griego</strong> has emerged as the team's second leading scorer this season. The Tigers are 14-4 at this point large part to <strong>Geleio Griego</strong> averaging about 12 points per game this year which is an improvement from last year. He has been a reliable scoring option this year and has been one of the Tiger's most consistent players. He has increased his production across the board and has taken pressure off the team's Star player; <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1176298' first='Jalin' last='Holland']</strong>. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lukas Turner</strong> "Santa Fe" CG Class of 2024</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lukas Turner</strong> averaged a solid 14 points per game last year as a sophomore and as a junior this year, his total has increased to 22.2 per game this season. His current scoring average ranks 7th in points per game this season across New Mexico. <strong>Lukas Turner</strong> has the Santa Fe Demons playing solid basketball at 11-7 up to this point as a legit playoff-caliber team. He has made arguably the biggest jump from any player since last year and has entered the conversation as one of the top guards in New Mexico. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->