Class of 2026: Best 4A Players

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1717294' first='Kenneth' last='Zamora'] - St Pius X - Guard </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Zamora has fit into the Pius rotation perfectly as a spark plug off the bench and a sharpshooter for their closing lineup. He had troubles with eligibility last season, which led to speculation as to how he'd perform this year. He's answered the call nevertheless, and has developed into a extremely quick and shifty guard who can provide instant offense on one end, and start fast breaks on the other. He'll continue to play a major role in the Sartans' future as they lose a lot of seniors after this year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1717247' first='Brayden' last='Giron'] - Hope Christian - Forward</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Giron was very underrated for quite a while. A couple glimpses I caught in tournaments during the offseason changed that real quick. He's a tall lanky stretch forward who is near automatic from beyond the arc, and always plays with a sense of calm and composure. Giron also uses his height to grab rebounds and turn them into put-backs and second chance opportunities for the Huskies. The Huskies are one of the top teams in 4A, and Giron has been a large part of that thus far this season. He'll lead their backcourt for a while as his combination of scoring and patience makes him a treat at all times. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1534007' first='Serafin' last='Mendez'] - Pojoaque Valley</strong> <strong>- Forward</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mendez is one of the most versatile overall players in the class regardless of position. He has taken over an Elks team in desperate need of someone to take the reins, and has delivered very well in his role. Mendez is able score from all three levels, and take over a game if he needs to, recently putting up a 26-point game against Bernalillo High School, and having multiple double-digit performances thus far this season. He's a large reason the Elks are above .500 so far, and will look to continue his success that contributes heavily to his team's success. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1717253' first='Francois' last='Satchivi'] &amp; [player_tooltip player_id='1717293' first='Julian' last='Castillo'] - Del Norte - Guards</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Del Norte lost all 5 starters from last season, which means they needed players to fill roles that they weren't familiar. Luckily, two sophomores have lead the team in almost every major category. [player_tooltip player_id='1717253' first='Francois' last='Satchivi'] has been the leader of this team, and is first in PPG, APG, and SPG, as well as 2nd in RPG. He's one of the top scorers in his class, and continues to grow as a player and expand his offensive skillset. [player_tooltip player_id='1717293' first='Julian' last='Castillo'] has been a great play-finisher and sharpshooter as both a starter and 6th man. He's 2nd in points, assists, and steals, and has come up clutch in late game situations. Together, they make a formidable backcourt that can keep pressure on teams at all times, and will make Del Norte dangerous for years to come. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1717306' first='Jerek' last='Duda'] - Espanola - Guard</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Duda is one of the most underrated players in the state. Despite the Sundevils' recent lack of success, Duda has been one of the lone bright spots, leading them offensively as a versatile combo guard. He's a creative three-level scorer who can get to the bucket at will. His ball-handling and ability to create for himself off the dribble has served him well during the course of his varsity career, and no doubt he will continue to expand his game as he gains more experience and more playing time at the varsity level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->