5A Girls Basketball Offseason Team Power Rankings: May 2023
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With the 2022-23 High School Basketball season coming to a close and with many seniors getting ready to graduate, we look at the first team power rankings of the off-season taking into account players graduating and potential players returning as…
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Continue ReadingWith the 2022-23 High School Basketball season coming to a close and with many seniors getting ready to graduate, we look at the first team power rankings of the off-season taking into account players graduating and potential players returning as of Friday, May 12th, 2023.
#1 Hobbs | Won the 2022-23 5A State Championship vs Volcano Vista: The Lady Hobbs Eagles won their third 5A State Championship in the past five seasons under Head Coach Joe Carpenter. They will be the obvious team to beat going into the 2023-24 season led by their group of five starters who were all sophomores this past season. Bhret Clay and Brynn Hargrove Brynn Hargrove 5'6" | PG Hobbs | 2025 State NM will lead the way with their scoring and shooting. Nakia Mojica Nakia Mojica 5'6" | CG Hobbs | 2025 State NM will once again provide some of the best three-point shooting in the state. Kyndle Cunningham Kyndle Cunningham 6'0" | PF Hobbs | 2025 State NM and Jayla David Jayla David 5'10" | PF Hobbs | 2025 State NM will return with strong post play, rebounding and defense to help the Hobbs Eagles defend their 5A State Title.
#2 Sandia | Lost in the 2022-23 5A State Quarterfinals to Hobbs: The Sandia Matadors will be returning four of their five varsity starters next season and each of there four leading scorers. Sydney Benally Sydney Benally 5'9" | PG Sandia | 2025 State NM , Hope Giddings Hope Giddings 5'8" | SG Sandia | 2025 State NM , Audrianna Wright and Chloe Brown Chloe Brown SG Sandia | 2026 State NM pose arguably the best “Big Four” in basketball due to their scoring, shooting, playmaking and defense. With another year of playoff experience, expect the Sandia Lady Matadors to make strong playoff runs for the next two seasons.
#3 Volcano Vista | Lost in the 2022-23 5A State Championship Game to Hobbs: The Volcano Vista Hawks made it to the 5A Girls State Championship for the fourth year in a row under Head Coach Lisa Villareal. Despite losing to Hobbs in the Championship Game this past season, they’ll have their top three players return next season: Taejhuan Hill Taejhuan Hill 5'11" | C Volcano Vista | 2024 State NM , Mila Espinoza Mila Espinoza 5'4" | CG Volcano Vista | 2025 State NM and Lilliana Duncan Lilliana Duncan 5'7" | SF Volcano Vista | 2024 State NM . Taejhuan Hill Taejhuan Hill 5'11" | C Volcano Vista | 2024 State NM is a consistent double-double threat, along with Mila Espinoza Mila Espinoza 5'4" | CG Volcano Vista | 2025 State NM ‘s three-point shooting/play making and Lilliana Duncan Lilliana Duncan 5'7" | SF Volcano Vista | 2024 State NM s scoring will keep the Hawks in the hunt for another title run next season.
#4 La Cueva | Lost in the 2022-23 5A State Semifinals to Hobbs: After reaching the 5A Girls State Semifinals for the second straight season, the La Cueva Bears lost three key varsity starters; Alexis Ayers Alexis Ayers 5'5" | CG La Cueva | 2023 State NM , Karleigh Guttierez and Olivia Haddock Olivia Haddock CG La Cueva | 2023 State NM . Luckily, they will still have arguably the state’s top duo, Eva Love Eva Love 5'9" | SG La Cueva | 2024 State NM and Jordyn Dyer Jordyn Dyer PF La cueva | 2026 State NM . Both can score at a high level, and it can be either players nights offensively. Along with Head Coach Marisa Cogan, expect the Lady La Cueva Bears to be once again in the mix.
#5 Farmington | Lost in the 2022-23 5A State Quarterfinals to Las Cruces: The Farmington Scorpions had the 4th best overall record during the 2022-23 season. Despite losing their second leading scorer Kamalani Anitielu Kamalani Anitielu 5'6" | PG Farmington | 2023 State NM to graduation, the Farmington Scorpions should still be a formidable force to be reckoned with next season. A big reason for that is because Kapiolani Anitielu Kapiolani Anitielu 5'10" | SF Farmington | 2024 State NM is leading the way as arguably the most all-around player in the state. Her sister Kjani Anitielu Kjani Anitielu 5'8" | SG Farmington | 2026 State NM will be returning as the team’s third leading scorer.