Elite El Paso Prospects (Playoff Edition)
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High school playoffs in Texas are now underway, with the bi-district and area rounds complete. This article is a three-part series detailing the top players who will ultimately impact whether or not their teams advance. The players in this article…
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Continue ReadingHigh school playoffs in Texas are now underway, with the bi-district and area rounds complete. This article is a three-part series detailing the top players who will ultimately impact whether or not their teams advance. The players in this article are their team’s best players and some of the elite prospects in El Paso.
Brandon Hymes Brandon Hymes 6'4" | SG El Paso Chapin | 2024 State TX
Brandon Hymes Brandon Hymes 6'4" | SG El Paso Chapin | 2024 State TX
Hymes is the first of many Chapin players who will be detailed in this series because they are a team loaded with talent and they have a legitimate shot at making it to the 5A state championship. More specifically, he is the best player on a historically great El Paso team. If Chapin achieves their ultimate goal, Hymes will be the reason. He’s a ferocious and disruptive defender but against the elite 5A teams, his offense will be pivotal. Chapin will need his scoring and his ability to make shots from the perimeter.
Jayden Leverett Jayden Leverett 6'10" | C El Paso Chapin | 2025 State TX
Jayden Leverett Jayden Leverett 6'10" | C El Paso Chapin | 2025 State TX
Every time Jayden Leverett Jayden Leverett 6’10” | C El Paso Chapin | 2025 State TX steps on the court for a varsity game in El Paso he’s a mismatch. There isn’t a single player in the Borderland region who can feasibly guard him for 32 minutes. At some point, he’s going to start dunking on and blocking everything in his path. At 6-10, he just towers over everyone. Making the safe assumption that Chapin advances through district and regional play, those mismatches will start to dwindle. With that, his ability to create second chance opportunities on the offensive glass and rim protection will matter.
Devin Falk-Ramirez Devin Falk-Ramirez 6'0" | PG Eastwood | 2025 TX
Devin Falk-Ramirez Devin Falk-Ramirez 6'0" | PG Eastwood | 2025 TX
When considering role and roster makeup, very few players in El Paso impact winning more so than Eastwood’s Devin Falk-Ramirez Devin Falk-Ramirez 6’0″ | PG Eastwood | 2025 TX . From game winners to fourth quarter takeovers to endless shot creation, he’s done it all for the Troopers. This current version of Eastwood is not an incredibly deep team; thus, the heavy reliance on Falk-Ramirez. If Eastwood advances past the bi-district round, they will need a Herculean performance from their star guard, which is by no means improbable. For example, his Feb. 6 game against Eastlake where he scored 33 of Eastwood’s 54 points in a double overtime win.
Azaiah Thompson
Azaiah Thompson
Azaiah Thompson is a two-way game changer. He does it most notably on the offensive end for Ysleta by putting his head down and getting to the rim when his jumper isn’t falling but he can be a very disruptive defender. Whether that be on ball or as a weakside help defender, his defensive upside is encouraging. Ysleta will have a tough uphill climb to win a bi-district game, but Thompson is a player who can give them a chance depending on the matchup.
Aiden Marquez
Aiden Marquez
Americas is a unique team in that they do not win games by a single players individual effort. The Trail Blazers play defense on a string and work patiently on the offensive side to score the ball. That said, their best player, Aiden Marquez, is their best player for a reason. He’s a consistent low post scorer, create more scoring opportunities from the free throw line, and is a solid offensive rebounder. If Marquez is playing well, Americas is probably winning.
Ethan Martinez
Ethan Martinez
It is not an exaggeration to say Martinez is the engine that makes the Cougars go. He’s Frankin’s best ball handler, playmaker, and their most reliable scorer. The senior guard isn’t without talented teammates, but this team is at their best when Martinez has the ball in his hands. Being that Franklin plays in 6A it’s going to be an uphill climb starting in the bi-district round. If the Cougars get to regionals it is going to be in part due to the play of Martinez.
Johan Camacho Johan Camacho 6'3" | C El Paso Bowie | 2026 TX
Johan Camacho Johan Camacho 6'3" | C El Paso Bowie | 2026 TX
The Bowie Bears are on a 13-game winning streak and riding high entering the playoffs. In large part, their sophomore star Johan Camacho Johan Camacho 6’3″ | C El Paso Bowie | 2026 TX is responsible for that. He’s an impact interior scorer and rebounder who has overmatched the bulk of his competition in El Paso. I believe Bowie can play multiple rounds of playoff basketball and Camacho will be crucial for them to do.
Ryu Nunez
Ryu Nunez
Del Valle is going to have a tough opening game in bi-district play and if they want to advance, Ryu Nunez will need to have a big game. He’s a reliable mid-range scorer who can get hot and go on runs. More specifically, he is one of the best players in the Borderland when it comes to getting to his spots. He doesn’t take many bad shots, but his aggressiveness will matter, so it wouldn’t be a bad thing if he looked to score more.