Class of 2022 Players We’re Excited to Track

High School Basketball is approaching and there is a lot of talent around New Mexico. In this article we look at the Class of 2022 top players to watch for this season. <p style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/11/natalia-crop-576x379-1638205631.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-357795 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/11/natalia-crop-576x379-1638205631-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a>[player_tooltip player_id="353694" first="Natalia" last="Chavez"]</span>- 5’9 Shooting Guard "Volcano Vista" Class of 2022</p> <p style="text-align: left;">Volcano Vista Shooting Guard [player_tooltip player_id="353694" first="Natalia" last="Chavez"] is coming off a great junior year in where she helped lead the Volcano Vista Hawks to the 5A State Championship this past spring. She had 16 points and 5 rebounds in the championship game vs #1 Hobbs. Throughout last season she averaged 16.5 points per game which ranked in the top 20 in New Mexico and 5th among the Class of 2022. She is one of the best scorers and shooters across New Mexico and has been a varsity player since her freshman year. This past season she had four 20 point games and reached the 1000 point milestone for her high school career. This past season she also made her commitment to the University of New Mexico and will be fun to watch this season trying to help the Volcano Vista Hawks go back to back in the 5A Class.</p> &nbsp; <p style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><img class="size-medium wp-image-357807 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/11/jaelyn-crop-576x379-1638206230-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" />[player_tooltip player_id="353693" first="Jaelyn" last="Bates"]</span>- 5’6 Point Guard "Volcano Vista" Class of 2022</p> <p style="text-align: left;">Point Guard [player_tooltip player_id="353693" first="Jaelyn" last="Bates"] was one of the biggest factors in leading the Volcano Vista Hawks to the 5A State Championship Title last season. [player_tooltip player_id="353693" first="Jaelyn" last="Bates"] is a true floor general at the Point Guard position who makes everyone around her better. She has a nice all around game and averaged 15.8 points per game and 4.5 steals per game. She is easily one of the best shooters in New Mexico who lets the game come to her and is one of the best playing the passing lanes getting steals defensively. Her play helped Volcano Vista go 10-0 in the regular season last year and defeat Hobbs in the state championship last season. This past off-season, she also made her commitment to the University of New Mexico with teammate [player_tooltip player_id="353694" first="Natalia" last="Chavez"]. [player_tooltip player_id="353693" first="Jaelyn" last="Bates"] makes the Volcano Vista Hawks the early favorites to go back to back in the 5A Class.</p> &nbsp; <p style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/11/Julianna-crop-576x379-1638207287.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-357824 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/11/Julianna-crop-576x379-1638207287-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a>[player_tooltip player_id="353683" first="Juliana" last="Aragon"]</span>- 5’5 Point Guard "Bernalillo" Class of 2022</p> <p style="text-align: left;">[player_tooltip player_id="353683" first="Juliana" last="Aragon"] from Bernalillo High School was arguably the best player in New Mexico last season. She has a nice all around game where she averaged 26.7 points per game which led New Mexico, 7.6 assists per game which led New Mexico and 3.4 steals per game. Her all around game helped guide Bernalillo High school to the #3 seed in the 4A State Tournament. She can score from anywhere on the floor with her great shooting and driving to the basket. She is a great finisher around the paint and is great at drawing fouls. She makes her teammates better with her passing and when she drives to the basket opens up shot’s for her teammates. This season expect [player_tooltip player_id="353683" first="Juliana" last="Aragon"] to have another big season and for Bernalillo to be in the mix for the 4A State Championship.</p> <p style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><img class="size-medium wp-image-357830 alignleft" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/11/jerzie-crop-576x379-1638208161-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></span></p> <p style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">[player_tooltip player_id="353691" first="Jerzie" last="Jones"]</span>- 5’4 Shooting Guard "La Cueva" Class of 2022</p> <p style="text-align: left;">La Cueva Bears [player_tooltip player_id="353691" first="Jerzie" last="Jones"] is the best player on one of the best teams in the 5A Class. She is one of the best scorers in New Mexico and averaged 17.2 points per game last season for the Bears. She can shoot the ball from range at a high level and is a great driver to the basket who doesn’t mind contact getting to the free throw line. She helped lead the La Cueva Bears back to the 5A State Tournament at the #7 seed last season. Another big part of her game is her defense where she averaged 4 steals per game with her great anticipation. The La Cueva Bears will be one of the top contenders in the 5A Class and [player_tooltip player_id="353691" first="Jerzie" last="Jones"] will have a huge role this season.</p> &nbsp; <p style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">[player_tooltip player_id="353690" first="Kiiyani" last="Anitielu"]</span>- 5’7 Point Guard "Farmington" Class of 2022</p> <p style="text-align: left;">Farmington Point Guard [player_tooltip player_id="353690" first="Kiiyani" last="Anitielu"] is arguably the best player in New Mexico. She averaged 21.3 points per game last season and was one of the biggest reasons for Farmington’s success last season finishing the season with an 8-3 record. She is one of the better scorers in New Mexico and had 7 games where she had 20 or more. Farmington will once again be one of the teams in 5A that can compete for the 5A State Championship and expect Kiiyani to increase her play from last season to this season.</p> &nbsp; <p style="text-align: left;"></p>