Area Breakdown: Metro Top Shooters

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 'Area Breakdown' series is a subseries in regards to the latest rankings update. Identifying players from specific regions within New Mexico and their expertise in shooting the basketball. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For area purposes and article formatting, the metro area will consist of Bernalillo and Valencia counties. Notable schools included are: Albuquerque High, Eldorado, Sandia, Valencia and Volcano Vista</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Here are some of the top shooters from the Metro Area:</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:table --> <figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Players</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>School</strong></td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center"><strong>Year</strong></td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">[player_tooltip player_id='370329' first='Bella' last='Hines']</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Eldorado</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">2025</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">[player_tooltip player_id='391103' first='Sydney' last='Benally']</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Sandia</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">2025</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">[player_tooltip player_id='391323' first='Mila' last='Espinoza']</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Volcano Vista</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">2025</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">[player_tooltip player_id='391320' first='Zaria' last='Gomez']</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Manzano</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">2025</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">[player_tooltip player_id='391108' first='Jadyn' last='Montoya']</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Valencia</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">2025</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">[player_tooltip player_id='888510' first='Breanna' last='Payton']</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Highland</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">2025</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">[player_tooltip player_id='565809' first='Giana' last='Roybal']</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Valley</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">2025</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">[player_tooltip player_id='391325' first='Makeda' last='Casquito']</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">NACA</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">2025</td></tr><tr><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">[player_tooltip player_id='648201' first='Lailah' last='Bouldin']</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">Albuquerque High</td><td class="has-text-align-center" data-align="center">2026</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["370329"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6682e52a37312"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bella is a dynamic offensive threat, who has both the ability to make difficult, contested shots and a knack for making shots drifting left or right.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">This past season, the 5'10" CG and LSU commit, led the State with a whopping 138 3PM -- 46 more than next closest player -- in just 30 games played; This matched her career total of 138 3PM, which she entered her junior year with.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Now in 84 games played, Hines has averaged 28.6 points per game with 276 3PM, posting career shooting splits of 40/31/74 (FG/3P/FT).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["391103"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6682e52a37366"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sydney is a rhythm shooter, with excellent mechanics, who routinely delivers big-time performances.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">For the 2023-24 season, Benally shot the 3ball with great confidence, making 71 three-pointers -- the fifth most in New Mexico -- but most importantly, it was done so at an efficient 42 percent clip.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Entering her senior year, Sydney's career shooting splits are 48/35/78 (FG/3P/FT). The 5'9" PG has totaled 152 3PM in 89 games played at Sandia and is a career 20.8 point per game scorer. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["391323"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6682e52a373a5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">With 122 3PM in 79 games played, Espinoza is now in the upper echelon of three-point shooters. As a junior (2023-24) the 5'4" CG averaged 12.9 points per game, tallying 64 three-pointers -- the seventh most in New Mexico -- while connecting at a 32 percent clip.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Mila has a high-arcing shot and has continued to expand her range, which has resulted in her becoming one of the better catch &amp; shoot three-point shooters, both in her class and in the entire State.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["391320"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6682e52a373de"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">This past season Gomez had the eighth most three-pointers made with 61 'treys' in 25 games played. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In 59 games, the 5'7" SG is a career 28 percent shooter from behind the arc, totaling 112 3PM at Manzano. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Zaria's ability to stretch the floor for the Monarchs (7-20, 2-8), allows driving lanes to open up for others and herself, due to the gravitational pull of her jump shot being able to fall from the outside. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["391108"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6682e52a37417"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Montoya really displayed her scoring ability this past season, as she was able to not only put the ball on the floor, but also knockdown the 3ball from various spots on the floor and in a variety of ways.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jadyn logged 58 3PM in 2023-24, connecting at a 34 percent rate, showcasing her potential as a floor spacer. Montoya was able to make three-pointers off the bounce, not just in Pick'n'Roll actions and was also a reliable threat in BLOB sets. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">To this point, Jadyn has 121 3PM in 88 games played at Valencia and is a career 14.5 point per game scorer. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["888510"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6682e52a3744f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Payton is an emerging '3PT-Specialist' who, this past season, averaged 11.1 points per game with 53 3PM in 27 games played for the Hornets (12-16, 3-5).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Breanna totaled 106 FGM for the 2023-24 season, meaning half (50%) of her made field-goals, came from behind the three-point line. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["565809"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6682e52a374ab"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Roybal is a capable threat from beyond the arc, who hit some timely three-pointers throughout the 2023-24 season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">For her career, Giana has made 42 three-pointers in 47 games played. As a junior, Giana made 22 appearances for the Vikings (13-15, 4-4), hitting 41 threes on 39 percent. Roybal will enter her senior year as a career 7.4 point per game scorer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["391325"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6682e52a374e6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">With 53 3PM in 2023-24, Makeda has now posted back-to-back seasons with 50+ three-pointers, giving the 2025 CG 116 3PM for her career.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Makeda who is a '3&amp;D' type guard, was the Eagles (12-16, 4-6) second leading scorer at 12.4 points per game and leader in steals per game with 4.0 this past season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["648201"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6682e52a3751d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As a sophomore, Bouldin played in 28 games for the Bulldogs (24-6, 9-1), knocking down 42 three-pointers, which was the top mark for the 2026 class. The 5'5" SG has vastly improved in catch &amp; shoot situations, resulting in Lailah becoming a viable threat out on the perimeter. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The soon-to-be junior has made 58 three-pointers, in 55 games played thus far, averaging 10.2 points per game overall while at Albuquerque High. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>*ALL STATS VIA MAXPREPS*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->