2026-27 Team Preview: Eldorado Eagles

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2026-27 ELDORADO EAGLES PREVIEW</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>OVERVIEW</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Eldorado finished 15-12 last season, 6-6 in district play, but failed to earn a spot in the Class 5A state tournament when they lost to Santa Fe in the second round of the district tournament. That contest essentially turned out to be a state tournament play-in game as Santa Fe eventually received the No. 16 seed. Eldorado's state tournament drought now extends two seasons.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“We just had to put our heads down and go to work,” Eldorado's long-time head coach Roy Sanchez told Prep Hoops New Mexico. “It was our only choice. The guys have done a good job of doing that. They're pretty focused. We have a basketball class, but they wanted even more than that. Everybody has pretty much bought in. They know they need that.“</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sanchez said Eldorado is counting on several JV players from last season to make the jump to varsity and contribute right away. Most of those players will be juniors in 2026-27.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“We'll see who steps up,” Sanchez said. “They have to make the leap. We graduated a few guys. These new guys have to step in and take their place. They play well together and they trust each other. So far, they've put the time in at the gym. They come in and put in the work.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PLAYERS TO WATCH</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2217079' first='Charlie' last='Wills'] (Sr., 5-11, G)</strong>: One of the top players in the Albuquerque Metro Region. Talented point guard capable of scoring a bunch of points too. Gym rat. Wills averaged close to 18 points per game in district play last season. “Charlie is an outstanding young man,” Sanchez said. “He's a great leader. That helps for sure. We haven't had a leader like him for a few years. He never gets down. He leads by example. We're lucky to have him.” Superb summer on the AAU circuit. Scored 40 points in one game at the UNM Team Camp.  Attended the RealHoops.com High Academic Camp in late July. Been a member of the Eldorado varsity since he was a sophomore in 2024-25. Definite next level talent. Attracting interest from D2 and high level D3 programs.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/CharlieWills208/status/2079943432718762438","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"x","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/CharlieWills208/status/2079943432718762438 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Myles Bargas (Sr., 6-0, G)</strong>: Likely the starter at shooting guard. Excellent shooter from the perimeter. Expected to form a productive backcourt duo with Wills.” &nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Desmond Robbs-Gardner (Sr., 6-6, F)</strong>: Brings good height and length to the Eldorado front line. Excellent leaping ability. “He's still refining his skills,” Sanchez said.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>NAMES TO KNOW</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Vance Brakey (Jr., 6-7, F)</strong>: Brings additional length to the Eldorado front court. “We have two big guys who play well together,” Sanchez said. “Hopefully, we can win the rebounding battle. Desmond and Vance played well together this summer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>KEY NEWCOMERS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2315851' first='Evan' last='Lee'] (Jr., G, 5-11)</strong>: Played mostly JV last season. Will be counted on to contribute scoring from the backcourt. Competing for a starting spot. “Evan shoots the ball and handles the ball pretty well. He'll be part of our nucleus.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jude Romero (Jr.)</strong>: Played mostly JV last season. Expected to make the leap to varsity.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Caleb Quintana (Jr.)</strong>: Another JV player who's battling for playing time with the varsity this season. &nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sawyer Gessner (Jr.)</strong>: Another JV player expected to compete for playing time at the varsity level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Caden Sandoval (Jr.)</strong>: Same.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>FINAL THOUGHTS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Eldorado opens the 2026-27 season Nov. 24 at Manzano before hosting Las Cruces and Organ Mountain and traveling to St. Pius X in early December. Later that month, Eldorado will compete in a tournament in Las Cruces. After that, they have the Metro Tournament before district play begins in late January.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Eagles are competing in District 5A-2 with Capital, Cibola, La Cueva, Sandia and Santa Fe. It will be a battle every game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“That's the way it should be,” Sanchez said. “In New Mexico high school basketball, we're playing somebody every night that's really good.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/CharlieWills208/status/2082855069545050286","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"x","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/CharlieWills208/status/2082855069545050286 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/shiftyu_/status/2071756189768221010","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"x","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/shiftyu_/status/2071756189768221010 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://twitter.com/RL_Hoops/status/2057445683225850304","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"x","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/RL_Hoops/status/2057445683225850304 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed -->