2022 under the radar prospects that are poised for a big season

The Class of 2022 is loaded with talent around New Mexico and there is a number of players who still don’t get the recognition and attention they deserve. In this article, there is six players from around the community that will have a major impact for their school’s this upcoming season. <img class="size-medium wp-image-1324740 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/11/Barlow-crop-719x472-1636471250-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" />   [player_tooltip player_id="1280498" first="Ty" last="Barlow"]- 6’6 Power Forward "West Mesa" Class of 2022 West Mesa’s big man [player_tooltip player_id="1280498" first="Ty" last="Barlow"] is one of the most underrated big’s in New Mexico and expect him and the West Mesa Mustangs to have a solid 2021-22 campaign. Since the end of last season, [player_tooltip player_id="1280498" first="Ty" last="Barlow"] has been constantly working on his game and has been to numerous camps and tournaments over the summer. He attended the Back to School tournament held at Volcano Vista this past August, he also attended the West Coast Elite NM Exposure Camp this past September and just this past weekend was part of a tournament held at West Mesa High School against some of New Mexico’s top players. He has gotten stronger and more quicker on both sides of the floor and will be one of West Mesa’s core players this season. He has always been a solid offensive player with his nice touch around the basket and is a very elite shot blocker. Expect a big season from [player_tooltip player_id="1280498" first="Ty" last="Barlow"].   <img class="size-medium wp-image-1324762 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/11/jaden-m-1-crop-720x473-1636472345-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" />   Jaden Malone- 6’4 Shooting Guard "Volcano Vista" Class of 2022 Jaden Malone from the Volcano Vista Hawks is one of the states best shooters and marksman from 3 point range but there’s so much more to his game than just his shooting. He has an underrated handle on the ball and is solid at driving to the basket to open up his shooting and outside scoring. At his size, he is a solid rebounder and can guard multiple positions on the defensive side of the ball. Since the end of last season, he also has attended numerous camps and tournaments to get his name out there. The Volcano Vista Hawks have most of their players from last season returning for this season and with coach Greg Brown leading one of the best basketball programs in the state of New Mexico, expect Jaden Malone to have a huge impact for the Hawks this season making another run at a state championship. <img class="size-medium wp-image-1324779 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/11/Griner-1-crop-720x473-1636473415-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" />   [player_tooltip player_id="1269615" first="Kevin" last="Griner"]- 5’10 Combo Guard "Valley" Class of 2022 Valley Guard [player_tooltip player_id="1269615" first="Kevin" last="Griner"] is one of the most underrated prospects in not just the Class of 2022 but in New Mexico in general. Just two seasons ago as a sophomore, he was a part of the 2nd of two straight back to back state championships from Valley High School. The Valley Vikings had 4 seniors from last season graduate and [player_tooltip player_id="1269615" first="Kevin" last="Griner"] is more than ready to lead the Valley Vikings back to the 4A State Basketball Tournament later this spring. With a busy off-season working on his game, [player_tooltip player_id="1269615" first="Kevin" last="Griner"] showcased several times this summer his great leadership as the Point Guard of his New Mexico Magic Club team and in the West Coast Elite Exposure Basketball Camp that came to New Mexico. He showcased his improved shooting and driving offensively and is ready to showcase to New Mexico why he is one of the most underrated prospects in the state this upcoming season. <img class="size-medium wp-image-1324790 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/11/tellez-crop-720x473-1636474769-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" />   [player_tooltip player_id="1226150" first="Josh" last="Tellez"]- 5’8 Point Guard "Del Norte" Class of 2022 Point Guard [player_tooltip player_id="1226150" first="Josh" last="Tellez"] is coming off leading Del Norte High School to it’s 1st state championship in school history but still doesn’t get the respect and recognition he deserves. He is a pure Point Guard who is super unselfish with the basketball and makes his teammates around him better players. I had the pleasure of interviewing [player_tooltip player_id="1226150" first="Josh" last="Tellez"] after the season and he said his role as the Point Guard of this team was " to keep everyone together and have everyone keep the same end goal". As soon as the season was over, [player_tooltip player_id="1226150" first="Josh" last="Tellez"] wasted no time to get back in the gym and continued to work on his game and and his goal for this season was "become more of an offensive threat and remain a leader on this team". [player_tooltip player_id="1226150" first="Josh" last="Tellez"] is one of the hardest workers in New Mexico and is never satisfied and with that mentality, expect Del Norte to be the favorites to go back to back in the 4A Class this season and expect a big year from [player_tooltip player_id="1226150" first="Josh" last="Tellez"]. <img class="size-medium wp-image-1324794 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/11/oscar-crop-720x473-1636475522-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" />   [player_tooltip player_id="1225473" first="Oscar" last="McCoy"]- 5’8 Point Guard "Volcano Vista" Class of 2022 Volcano Vista Point Guard [player_tooltip player_id="1225473" first="Oscar" last="McCoy"] is one of the top two way players at the Point Guard position in New Mexico. Volcano Vista is consistently one of the top basketball programs every season led by Coach Greg Brown. [player_tooltip player_id="1225473" first="Oscar" last="McCoy"] plays on a team that has had several great players over the years and he doesn’t get the attention and respect he should be getting. He is a lights out 3 point shooter who has hit some big shots over the years and is never afraid of taking a big shots in crunch time. One of the best parts of his game is his defense, he is not the biggest player at his position but doesn’t turn down the challenge of guarding the other teams best opposing Guards and he holds his own defensively forcing turnovers and contesting tough shots against his matchups. [player_tooltip player_id="1225473" first="Oscar" last="McCoy"] is the type of player every team wants and needs, with his shooting, defense and floor general abilities, expect [player_tooltip player_id="1225473" first="Oscar" last="McCoy"] to help Volcano Vista compete for the 5A State Championship this season. He also had a busy off-season working on his game attending camps and tournaments this past summer. <img class="size-medium wp-image-1324803 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/11/Dylan-crop-720x473-1636476248-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" />   Dylan D'Arco- 5'10 Guard "Sandia" Class of 2022 Sandia's senior Guard Dylan D'Arco is one of the most underrated prospects in New Mexico and will be one of Sandia's core players this season as they compete for the 5A State Championship. Since the end of last season, we have seen Dylan D'Arco appear in every tournament and basketball camp against the top players in New Mexico. He attended the West Coast Elite Basketball Exposure Camp and put on a good display of his 3 point shooting and play-making abilities. He has also been working closely every morning with Sandia's Coach Danny Brown getting shots up before school and has been putting the extra time in the gym to get ready for the upcoming season in a few weeks. After a disappointing end to last season vs Atrsico Heritage in the 1st round of the 5A Playoffs, expect Dylan D'Arco and the Matadors to be one of the top teams in the 5A Class this season.