Class 4A: 10 Players We Can’t Wait To Watch In 2025-26

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2024-25 New Mexico high school basketball season ended Saturday as five state champions were crowned in every classification. We're already looking forward to the 2025-26 season. Here are 10 Class 4A players we look forward to watching in 2025-26:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1717250' first='Hunter' last='Aime'], Albuquerque Academy</strong>: After a solid junior campaign in which he helped lead the Chargers to a district regular season championship and &nbsp;the Class 4A semifinals, another summer on the AAU circuit should prepare the 6-foot-11 Aime for a monster senior season. Impressive paint presence on both ends. But he can shoot the 3 as well. New Mexico Highlands has offered. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2283972' first='Carin' last='Bustillos'], Valencia</strong>: The 6-foot-2 Bustillos led Valencia in scoring (12.4 ppg) and was second in rebounding (5.7 rpg) for the Jaguars. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1846065' first='Charlie' last='Campbell'], Artesia</strong>: If you think Artesia is going away after capturing the Class 4A state championship, think again. The rising senior quartet of Campbell (1^st Team All State), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1717327' first='Braylon' last='Vega']</strong> (HM All-State), <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2146038' first='Clay' last='Kincaid']</strong> (2^nd Team All-State) and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2684221' first='Trent' last='Egeland']</strong> all return in 2025-26. Campbell had 15 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists in the 4A state championship game. He's a baller. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1717306' first='Jerek' last='Duda'], Espanola Valley</strong>: Duda helped lead Espanola Valley to the 4A semifinals. Duda earned Second-Team All-State honors, one of two Sundevils players to make the coveted list. Averaged over 15.0 point per game. One of the top junior scorers in Class 4A this past season. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2300007' first='Malakhai' last='Ely'], Taos</strong>: The 6-foot-3 Ely was one of the leaders of the Tigers, earning Second-Team All-State honors. He can score and rebound at a very high level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2827457' first='Christian' last='Jacquez'], Aztec</strong>: Averaged over 10 points and about 5 rebounds per game for the Tigers. Aztec made a Cinderella run through the District 4A-1 Tournament and nearly toppled No. 1 seed Gallup in the district tourney championship game. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2693635' first='Juan' last='Limas'], Highland</strong>: Limas carried the Hornets on his shoulders through the first six weeks of the season until 3-point sharpshooter [player_tooltip player_id='1687821' first='Jesus' last='Licon'] returned in mid-January from his spring injury. &nbsp;Limas averaged 15.7 points and 7.4 rebounds per game, yet somehow was left off the 4A All-State Team, making Limas arguably the most underappreciated player in the state. Scored 12 points and grabbed 7 rebounds in the 4A state championship game. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2402829' first='Jerry' last='Moody'], Highland</strong>: The 6-foot-8 Moody, just a sophomore, will be one of the most intriguing players in 4A next season. Averaged 7.4 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. Moody will be relied upon more next season for scoring and shot blocking. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1717253' first='Francois' last='Satchivi'], Del Norte</strong>: One of the top scorers in the Albuquerque Metro Region. Averaged about 15 points and 4 rebounds per game. If Del Norte makes a deeper run in the 4A playoffs next March, Satchivi will lead the way. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1717248' first='Joziah' last='Salazar'], Pojoaque Valley</strong>: Even though the Elks lost to Taos in the first round of the 4A playoffs, the Elks surprised some folks by finishing second in District 4A-2 behind Espanola Valley. Salazar had a fantastic season, averaging about 11 points per game. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Honorable Mention</strong>:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1717301' first='Jared' last='Porter'], Valencia</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1534007' first='Serafin' last='Mendez'], Pojoaque Valley</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1326929' first='Elijah' last='Rivero'], Lovington</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Raymund Zavala, Santa Teresa</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2694552' first='Ezekiel' last='Burrola'], Goddard</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Avery Harrison, Bloomfield</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2706584' first='Jordan' last='Cadman'], Miyamura</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">6'11” 2026 PF/C [player_tooltip player_id='1717250' first='Hunter' last='Aime'] (<a href="https://twitter.com/hunter_aime?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@hunter_aime</a>) is balling! One of the most dominant paint presences in the entire state this year, Aime blocks shots and dunks in the lane at will. He is also a skilled passer out of the post and has a nice 3 point stroke! <a href="https://t.co/BI0WYUINYP">pic.twitter.com/BI0WYUINYP</a></p>&mdash; Academy MBB (@AbqAcademy_mbb) <a href="https://twitter.com/AbqAcademy_mbb/status/1893885363849953671?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 24, 2025</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html -->