2023 Coronado Classic: Day 4 Standouts and Tournament Recap
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Kenyon Aguino Kenyon Aguino 6'7" | PF Volcano Vista | 2025 State #257 Nation NM – Class of 2025 – Forward – Volcano Vista HS It’s easy to say that the reigning New Mexico Gatorade Player of the Year and…
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Continue ReadingKenyon Aguino Kenyon Aguino 6'7" | PF Volcano Vista | 2025 State #257 Nation NM – Class of 2025 – Forward – Volcano Vista HS
It’s easy to say that the reigning New Mexico Gatorade Player of the Year and 5A Championship MVP stands out in almost every game he plays. However, his dominance could not be overstated in the two games I watched, as he averaged 29.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 2 steals. There was no question that Aguino was the best player on the floor at all times, and defenses had no answer to his offensive prowess, as he bullied his way inside while also knocking down three-pointers at a high success rate. The highlight of his day was his extraordinary first half against Valley High School, where he scored a shocking 31 points on 10/11 from the field, propelling Volcano to a win that put them in the championship game, where he scored 26 in Volcano’s first place effort.
Jesus Licon Jesus Licon 6'0" | CG Highland | 2025 State NM – Class of 2025 – Guard – SAHQ
Licon appears on one of my lists once again, as he showcases why he’s one of the best combo guards in his class. His three-point shooting was on point today, as he went 4/6 from deep against Capital HS, and a whopping 7/10 against Viggo Basketball in the semifinals, where SAHQ barely lost in overtime 58-56. Licon continues to showcase every weekend his volume shooting ability and patience in the half-court set, as SAHQ proves to be one of the most consistent teams in the New Mexico circuit. He and teammate Raul Stanford Raul Stanford 5'10" | CG Highland | 2024 State NM form a formidable backcourt that can score and defend with the best in New Mexico, and they will continue to do so at a high level.
Enyer Leonardo Guerrero – Class of 2023 – Forward – Viggo Basketball
Viggo Basketball from El Paso turned out to be one of the best teams in the tournament, coming in 2nd place, and was quite possibly the most athletic team in the whole thing. Guerrero was an absolute unit, combining freakish athleticism with a broad frame to anchor Viggo’s offense. Through the 3 games that I saw, he averaged 18.3 points and 5.3 rebounds along with 2 steals per game, tearing through defense and finishing at the rim at will, throwing down some ferocious dunks. It didn’t matter who was guarding him, his pure athletic ability and tenacity would put him at an advantage no matter who was in front of him, which not only made Viggo a force in this tournament, but also one of the most fun teams to watch.
Tournament Accolades
Note: These are based on only the games I saw, and I have a relatively limited sample size since I could only see a certain amount of games.
Best Player: Kenyon Aguino Kenyon Aguino 6'7" | PF Volcano Vista | 2025 State #257 Nation NM – Class of ‘25 – Forward – Volcano Vista HS
This was the obvious choice, as Aguino simply ran roughshod over every team he faced. His offensive ability cannot be denied as he truly is a three-level scorer, and his subtle impact on defense gave every team problems. With two more years left in his high school career, Aguino can only look to improve upon his already impressive resume as the leader of a still thriving Volcano Vista Hawks team.
Best Defensive Player: Erik Saldana – Class of ‘24 – Guard – El Paso Matrix
Saldana was the leader of a very defensively sound Matrix team, and played his role extremely well. As a relatively undersized guard, Saldana played well above his physical stature, showcasing an indomitable will and instinct that bode his team well in their games. While he averaged 3.0 steals and 1.5 blocks in the games I saw, he had an effect that wasn’t logged in the stat sheet. His constant on-ball pressure gave offenses trouble at all times, and he exhibited consistent effort on every possession, making him well deserving of this title.
Best Game: Semifinal – SAHQ vs Viggo Basketball
This game had everything. Physicality, controversial refereeing, a constant back-and-forth, clutch shotmaking, etc. SAHQ went into halftime up by 10, with Jesus Licon Jesus Licon 6'0" | CG Highland | 2025 State NM making almost every shot he put up. Viggo quickly turned it around in the second half however, keeping the game close until tying it with 2 minutes left. A clutch three put Viggo up by two, though a missed free throw on the corresponding play gave SAHQ a chance to call timeout and inbound the ball closer to the half court rather than along the baseline, and Jesus Licon Jesus Licon 6'0" | CG Highland | 2025 State NM took advantage by taking the ball coast-to-coast before dropping it off to Sebastian Hernandez Sebastian Hernandez 5'10" | SG Highland | 2025 State NM for the game-tying layup. In overtime, Viggo eventually got SAHQ into foul trouble, and even though a late-game run fueled by Raul Stanford Raul Stanford 5'10" | CG Highland | 2024 State NM ‘s scoring kept SAHQ in the game, Viggo continued to attack late in overtime, which eventually led to their win 58-56.