Small School Standouts: Class 3A-1A

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we approach February, here are 10 small school standouts (Classes 3A-1A) playing exceptional well for their teams:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2693652' first='Kaileb' last='Atencio'], Penasco</strong>: Consistently good across the board for the Panthers. Atencio averaged nearly 14 points per game in 2024-25. This season, he's increased his scoring average to 19.3 ppg and is averaging over 4 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals per game. Excellent all-around player.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1717249' first='Hayden' last='Bruhn']/[player_tooltip player_id='1717329' first='Mason' last='Wallin'], Logan</strong>: You can't talk about one without the other. Bruhn and Wallin have led the Longhorns to an 18-1 start as they seek to defend their 1A title. Bruhn and Wallin are combining for 45.2 points and 21.1 rebounds per game. Denying Logan a second consecutive 1A championship will be difficult for the rest of Class 1A.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2833696' first='Jett' last='Curtis'], Texico</strong>: Two months after Texico captured its second consecutive Class 2A state football championship, the basketball team is a strong contender to go back-to-back in hoops. In fact, the Wolverines are ranked No. 1 in the latest 2A MaxPreps poll. Curtis, an outstanding two-sport athlete, is averaging over 20 points and 4 rebounds per game. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2833741' first='CJ' last='Granados'], Dexter</strong>: In addition to being the starting quarterback on the Demons football team, Granados is a heckuva hoops player as well. He's third in Class A in scoring at 20.3 points per game. He's also an excellent rebounder (7.4 rebounds per game) and passer (almost 3 assists per game).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2693613' first='Zavin' last='Guck'], Cobre</strong>: We chronicled Zavin and his brother Izon for being arguably the top brother tandem in the state. Zavin leads all scorers in Class 3A with an average of 20.9 points per game. Cobre is 14-3 heading into Thursday's intriguing non-district class at Tularosa.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1717324' first='Scotty' last='Guerro'], Alamo Navajo</strong>: Alamo Navajo is ranked No. 8 in the latest 1A MaxPreps poll and Guerro is enjoying&nbsp; another sensational season. Guerro has averaged double figures in scoring since he was a freshman and has over 1,400 career points. This season, he's averaging 16.7 points per game and a career-best 2.3 points. So, he's scoring and distributing the basketball. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2216708' first='Michael' last='Marr'], Robertson</strong>: The defending 3A champions got off to a slow start but have now won seven game in a row. Marr is the leader of the Cardinals as he's been lighting up the scoreboard at the rate of 20.4 points per game. He's also averaging 4.2 assists and 3.2 steals, so he's a complete player. Recently scored a career high 35 points against Sandia Prep. Hometown New Mexico Highlands has offered. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Rylee Paul, Cloudcroft</strong>: For the second straight season, Paul is averaging over 20 points per game. But compared to last season, his numbers for assists, steals and blocks per game are way up. So he's improved his game and become a better all-around player.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2839492' first='Pablo' last='Romero'], Springer</strong>: Springer is ranked No. 5 in the latest MaxPreps 1A poll. Romero received a burst of publicity last season when, as a freshman, &nbsp;he briefly set a new state record for most 3-pointers in a single game with 16. This season, he's averaging 18.3 points and 6.6 rebounds per game &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2300000' first='Bryant' last='Scales'], Legacy Academy</strong>: After a standout football season, Scales has been equally good on the hardwood. He recently scored a school record 45 points in a single game and registered his 1,000^th career point and 500^th career rebound. He's leading Class 2A in scoring (22.3 ppg) and rebounds (10.2 rpg). He's impressively averaging a double-double.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">[player_tooltip player_id='2833696' first='Jett' last='Curtis'] Mid season averages for Texico High School. <a href="https://twitter.com/andrew_sorrells?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@andrew_sorrells</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachDuncan323?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachDuncan323</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachDGalyean?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachDGalyean</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Jfleming5?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Jfleming5</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/LCU_ChapsMBball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LCU_ChapsMBball</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ORUMBB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ORUMBB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/nmprepcosports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nmprepcosports</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/PrepHoopsNM?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepHoopsNM</a> <a href="https://t.co/pbOXXiEyjb">pic.twitter.com/pbOXXiEyjb</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='2833696' first='Jett' last='Curtis'] (@jett_curtis_) <a href="https://twitter.com/jett_curtis_/status/2014910576657350980?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 24, 2026</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">59-50 win vs sandia prep<br>35pts new career high <a href="https://twitter.com/PrepHoops_NM?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepHoops_NM</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/nmpreps?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nmpreps</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ZachSettembre?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ZachSettembre</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/jordanstrom?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@jordanstrom</a> <a href="https://t.co/xlMYxzLYek">pic.twitter.com/xlMYxzLYek</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='2216708' first='Michael' last='Marr'] (@michaelmarr1223) <a href="https://twitter.com/michaelmarr1223/status/2012703421405733206?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 18, 2026</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html -->