Metro League Player of the Year Candidates

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The season has concluded in the Metro League and the All-League honors will be announced in the near future. Who will be named the Player of the Year? Here's a look at the top candidates (listed in alphabetical order).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2021519"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69a4bcc7afe34"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Perhaps the only player in the league to almost average a double-double, Jenkins made a big jump in his play from his junior to senior season. He also had the athleticism and skill but everything came together for him in 2024-25 as the Wildcats followed up an incredible season with another year where they were contention for the Metro League title. A solid scorer in the halfcourt but absolutely devastating finishing in transition, Jenkins also excelled defensively in addition to his boardwork.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1989913"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69a4bcc7afe91"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Jesuit was pretty balanced across the board and had a number of guys that could be POY candidates but Stimpson gets the edge due to the impact he had more than just scoring. The senior could certainly put points on the board but it's the physical style of play from the future Nevada football standout that made him a huge factor on the defensive side of the ball. He was also a clutch performer, converting the big four-point play that propelled the Crusaders to a huge win over Southridge at home.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2026058"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69a4bcc7afedc"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The old adage of best player on the best team is the POY certainly applies to Thompson, who seems like the odds-on favorite for the award. The junior point guard took the reins of leading man for the league champ Skyhawks with plenty of poise and confidence, capably showing great balance in his own offense and setting up his teammates both down low and out on the perimeter. He not only grew physically but also as the de facto leader for a team entering the 6A post-season as the #1 overall seed.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2132804"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69a4bcc7aff2e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Perhaps no one elevated his game as much this season as Thompson as he became an outright offensive force for the Apollos. With his combination of length and athleticism and ability to score both inside and out, the junior was a mismatch nightmare for defenses. In particular, his length proved to be beneficial both with his own rebounding and defense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1582931"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-69a4bcc7aff86"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Vizconde's role has evolved over the years, going from corner shooting specialist as a freshman to now a leader his senior season. The combo guard excelled in all phases of the game in 2025-26 for the Mavericks, still scoring the ball well consistently while also helping run Mountainside's sophisticated sets designed to get easy points close to the basket.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://poll.fm/16696246","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"crowdsignal","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-crowdsignal wp-block-embed-crowdsignal"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://poll.fm/16696246 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->