Which Teams Will Benefit Most From Lunn’s Departure?

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2027 Volcano Vista CG [player_tooltip player_id='2111977' first='David' last='Lunn'] stunned the New Mexico High school ranks recently when he announced he would move to the East Coast and play his senior season for a prestigious private school in the Boston area.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lunn's exit means six players from Volcano Vista's 2025-26 roster won't be back. Sure, the Hawks have some good players returning, but without Lunn the balance of power in Class 5A could be shifting. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Which Class 5A teams will benefit the most from Lunn's decision to depart New Mexico? Here are five teams on our radar:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Centennial</strong>: The Hawks captured the regular season and district tourney championships in 2025-26. Their top two scorers graduate, but rising seniors <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='3573922' first='Anthony' last='Eres']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='3574005' first='Ruiz' last='Laborin']</strong> (also the QB on the football team) are back to lead the Hawks. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Cleveland</strong>: This could be the moment for the Storm to strike. Yes, they lose our No. 1 prospect in the 2026 class, but they have plenty of talent returning. Six of Cleveland's top seven scorers are back in 2026-27, led by the talented rising senior duo of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2832983' first='Brycen' last='Bowie']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2085714' first='Ajay' last='Vigil']</strong>. So are 6-foot-5 rising junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2919518' first='Jordan' last='Rivera'], </strong>rising senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2882843' first='Noah' last='Valler']</strong> and 3-point ace <strong>Cannon Cole</strong>. The Storm will be one of the favorites to claim the 5A crown in 2026-27. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Las Cruces</strong>: The Bulldawgs won 25 games in 2025-26 before falling to Volcano Vista in the quarterfinals of the Class 5A tournament. The Bulldawgs had plenty of height last season, and they will again next season. Six-foot-5 rising sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2967333' first='Talen' last='Miller']</strong>, rising senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2173093' first='Josef' last='Brisby']</strong>, 6-foot-5 rising junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2368514' first='Vaughn' last='Romney']</strong> and 6-foot-4 rising junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2368515' first='Jayden' last='Brisby']</strong> are returning. Yeah, the Bulldawgs will be big. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Rio Rancho</strong>: Speaking of big, 6-foot-5 rising senior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2706557' first='Noah' last='Lovato']</strong> (also an elite defensive end for the RRHS football team) returns to lead the Rams in 2026-27 along with PG <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2839414' first='Dashon' last='Bynum']</strong>. Together, Lovato and Bynum combined for over 20 points per game last season. Will the Rams have enough to make a deep run in the state tournament next March? &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sandia</strong>: The Matadors are arguably the most fun team to watch in the entire state with their rock and roll, fast paced style of play. Anybody, it seems, has the green light to fire up a 3-pointer. Sandia's top three scorers last season were all sophomores. District 5A-2 Player of the Year <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2714567' first='Isaiah' last='Brown']</strong> leads the troops and his supporting cast is impressive. Rising juniors <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2714580' first='Gad' last='Harris']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2714561' first='George' last='Smith']</strong> are special players as well. Harris missed most of the 2025-26 season with a football-related injury, but when he's healthy, watch out. He scored 29 points in Sandia's semifinals loss to Cleveland.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Varsity playing in Albuquerque this weekend...<a href="https://x.com/NMStateMBB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NMStateMBB</a> <a href="https://x.com/UTEPMBB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UTEPMBB</a> <a href="https://x.com/UNMLoboMBB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UNMLoboMBB</a> <a href="https://x.com/KJ_Ford4?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@KJ_Ford4</a> <a href="https://x.com/PrepHoops_NM?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepHoops_NM</a> <a href="https://x.com/RussellGurule?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RussellGurule</a> <a href="https://x.com/Coach_JNunez?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Coach_JNunez</a> <a href="https://t.co/rVax46S1bK">pic.twitter.com/rVax46S1bK</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='2967333' first='Talen' last='Miller'] (@TalenMiller2029) <a href="https://x.com/TalenMiller2029/status/2065225058277355683?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 12, 2026</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html --> <!-- wp:html --> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">First team all state! Couldn't do it without my teammates! #2028<a href="https://x.com/SebastianNoel47?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SebastianNoel47</a> <a href="https://x.com/AdamDiehl15?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AdamDiehl15</a> <a href="https://x.com/PrepHoops_NM?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PrepHoops_NM</a> <a href="https://t.co/PMpyPG1J7z">pic.twitter.com/PMpyPG1J7z</a></p>&mdash; [player_tooltip player_id='2714567' first='Isaiah' last='Brown'] (@zay32brown) <a href="https://x.com/zay32brown/status/2038094997132611622?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 29, 2026</a></blockquote> <!-- /wp:html -->