Players On The Verge Of A Breakout Year, Part Two.
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With another season upon us, now is a good time check in which players are on the verge of breaking out this season. From younger underclassmen who made a name for themselves last year, some of them are ready to…
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Continue ReadingWith another season upon us, now is a good time check in which players are on the verge of breaking out this season. From younger underclassmen who made a name for themselves last year, some of them are ready to take the next step this year. Even some juniors or seniors that are ready to make the leap in their games from last year. This is part two of two of players on the verge of breaking out this season at the high school level.
Taejhuan Hill Taejhuan Hill 5'11" | C Volcano Vista | 2024 State NM has helped the Volcano Vista Hawks win back to back 5A State Championships in 2021 and 2022. She has gotten off to a solid start in his first two years on the high school level. During her sophomore year, Taejhuan was Volcano Vista’s third leading scorer averaging 12 points per game and was the teams leading rebounder averaging over 8 boards per game. The teams two leading scorers the past two seasons have been UNM Lobo commits (Natalia Chavez and Jaelyn Bates). Other teammate Kennedy Brown, won the defensive player of the year award last season so Volcano Vista will be without three members of their championship core this season. Taejhuan Hill Taejhuan Hill 5'11" | C Volcano Vista | 2024 State NM will be become the teams primary scoring option and is a threat inside the paint. She is a strong and physical center that can score down low and from mid-range. I expect her to be a double-double machine this season as the Hawks look to three-peat as State Champions for the third consecutive year.
You can make an argument that Ema Rose Ema Rose 5'11" | PF Gadsden | 2023 State NM from Gadsden High School had a breakout type of year last season as a junior but I expect her to to take her game up a notch during her senior season this winter. Last season she led the team in scoring averaging 15 points per game which was 16th in New Mexico last season. Ema is a great rebounder and averaged over 9 rebounds per game and ranked 6th in New Mexico in rebounding last season. Ema was a consistent scorer who thrived around the basket and has a nice touch around the rim. She is good at getting offensive rebounds and getting second chance points off the glass. Defensively, Ema was the best shot blocker in New Mexico averaging just under 4 swats per game. She knew how to anticipate when a shot was going up before she sent it back. I expect her production to rise next season as a senior.
Going into her junior year, Caitlin Turnbow Caitlin Turnbow 5'10" | PF Organ Mountain | 2024 State NM will be asked to do more for the Organ Mountain Knights. As a sophomore Caitlin averaged over 12 points per game and over 8 rebounds per game which attributed to Organ Mountain reaching the 5A Girls State Quarterfinals a season ago. Caitlin is a traditional 4/5 that spends most of her time around the rim and scores with ease inside. She shot just under 50% from the field last year and I wouldn’t be surprised to see that percentage jump this year. With star teammate; Harmanie Dominguez graduated, expect Caitlin Turnbow Caitlin Turnbow 5'10" | PF Organ Mountain | 2024 State NM to be the center of attention next season and have the offense ran through her direction.
Olivia Montano Olivia Montano 5'4" | CG Sandia | 2024 State NM ‘s production has increased in each of her first two season’s for the West Mesa Mustangs. At this pace I expect that increased production to carry over into her junior season that begins in a few months. Olivia averaged just under 10 points per game last season as a sophomore and was one of the states premier marksman from long-range. She made a total of 40 three-point field goals last season as a sophomore which ranked inside the top 20 in three-point makes in New Mexico. She knows how to space the floor, get herself open for opportunities and when to pull up for her shots. I expect her scoring to increase for the second straight year for the West Mesa Mustangs going into her junior season.
Bleona Agushi Bleona Agushi PG Del Norte | 2025 State NM had an eye opening freshman year campaign for the Del Norte Knights last season. She averaged 9 points per game as a freshman last season and was the teams second leading scorer this past year. Del Norte lost thier leading scorer Mikayla Westfall to graduation this past spring and will ask Bleona Agushi Bleona Agushi PG Del Norte | 2025 State NM to produce more this year. Bleona is a scoring first point guard who can create her own own shot off the dribble easily. She can space the floor with her shooting and will get more opportunities this season as a sophomore.