Prep Girls Hoops New Mexico: Preseason 5A All-State Predictions

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The New Mexico High School Coaches Association are the ones who select and determine the Girls All-State Teams. They have been doing this since 2009, Athletes are first nominated by their head coach and ranked by all head coaches in that respective classification. There is a First Team All-State and a Second Team All-State consisting of eight players each. There are sixteen total players selected from both teams consisting of Guards, Forwards and Centers. This article will give our predictions for the All-State Teams, The 5A Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator {"className":"is-style-wide"} --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide"/> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>5A Player of the Year: [player_tooltip player_id='370329' first='Bella' last='Hines'] "Eldorado"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Defensive Player of the Year:<strong> Leilani Love</strong> "Albuquerque"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Coach of the Year: <strong>Lisa Villareal</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Freshman of the Year: <strong>Jordyn Dyer</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator {"className":"is-style-wide"} --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide"/> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Guard: [player_tooltip player_id='370329' first='Bella' last='Hines'] "Eldorado"- The top player in New Mexico was selected to Second Team All-State last season and was the second leading scorer in New Mexico last year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Guard: [player_tooltip player_id='357673' first='Eva' last='Love'] "La Cueva"- The top player in the 2024 Class is a returning selection from the 2022 All-State Second Team. She played a huge role in La Cueva reaching the 5A State Semisfinals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Forward: [player_tooltip player_id='353908' first='Aspen' last='Salazar'] "Centennial"- The Senior Small Forward was the leading scorer on the Hawks last season while leading them to the 5A State Quarterfinals last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Forward: [player_tooltip player_id='391245' first='Kapiolani' last='Anitielu'] "Farmington"- The Farmington Forward was selected to the 2022 All-State Second Team last season as a sophomore and is a solid pick to make the selection again this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Center: Leilani Love "Albuquerque"- The best Big in New Mexico was selected to Second Team All-State last season. She comes into this year in the discussion as arguably one of the best players in NM.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Guard: [player_tooltip player_id='391103' first='Sydney' last='Benally'] "Sandia"- Made Second Team All-State as a freshman and quickly emerged as one of the top two-way players in New Mexico last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Forward: [player_tooltip player_id='353923' first='Ema' last='Rose'] "Gadsden"- A double-double machine that was responsible for much of Gadsden's success last season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Center: [player_tooltip player_id='357657' first='Taejhuan' last='Hill'] "Volcano Vista"- Already a Two-Time State Champion going into her junior year; [player_tooltip player_id='357657' first='Taejhuan' last='Hill'] was selected to First Team All-State as a sophomore last season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator {"className":"is-style-wide"} --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide"/> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Guard: [player_tooltip player_id='353927' first='Emma' last='Christiano'] "Las Cruces"- An all-around Point Guard who continues to get better each year for the Bulldawgs. While leading them to the 5A State Quarterfinals, <strong>Emma</strong> was selected to Second Team All-State. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Guard: [player_tooltip player_id='353913' first='Kamalani' last='Anitielu'] "Farmington"- A returning varsity starter and the teams second leading scorer last season. [player_tooltip player_id='353913' first='Kamalani' last='Anitielu'] will be the new face of the Scorpions this season as a Senior and was selected to Second Team All-State last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Guard: [player_tooltip player_id='458555' first='Bhret' last='Clay'] "Hobbs"- After a successful freshman year and playing a huge role in helping Hobbs reach yet another State Championship game, [player_tooltip player_id='458555' first='Bhret' last='Clay'] has already started receiving interest to play college basketball at the next level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Forward: Kindyll Cunningham "Cleveland"- The Junior Forward looks to carry her success from last season into this year for the Cleveland Storm.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Center: [player_tooltip player_id='357650' first='Caitlin' last='Turnbow'] "Organ Mountain"- A double-double threat that will see her production increase with more touches and opportunities this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Guard: [player_tooltip player_id='458556' first='Brynn' last='Hargrove'] "Hobbs"- A freshman that made quite the impact for Hobbs during their championship run last season that will continue to do so this year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Guard/Forward: [player_tooltip player_id='391104' first='Hope' last='Giddings'] "Sandia"- A combo guard that can space the floor with her shooting and with improved playmaking. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Forward/Center: [player_tooltip player_id='459002' first='Tayden' last='Hanks'] "Los Lunas"- A versatile forward that can also play the five spot. Solid at getting to the basket as well as stretching the floor on the perimeter from outside. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator {"className":"is-style-wide"} --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide"/> <!-- /wp:separator -->