Four seniors set to ignite this season

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With each new basketball season, a handful of players emerge as breakout candidates, poised to elevate their performance and make a significant impact for their teams. This rise often stems from increased playing time and new opportunities, or from unlocking their untapped potential.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Buckle up! The 2025-26 season kicks off in nine weeks, and these four talents are set to explode onto the scene, ready to deliver jaw-dropping performances.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- 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":["648219"],"_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-68b733c6bbf80"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Otero is an energetic and selfless player who can also space the floor. Since her debut in the 2022-23 season, she has steadily improved her play-making and her scoring for the Jaguars. This past season, she achieved new career-highs by averaging 7.5 points and 3.2 assists per game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The assumption is that she will be one of the primary options for Coach Montoya this upcoming season, rather than a tertiary option or recipient of a broken play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["648227"],"_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-68b733c6bc087"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The belief is that Coach Selby and Las Cruces will heavily rely on Herrera, who, in a nutshell, is a savvy and versatile play-maker who contributes to winning basketball.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">This last season, she was one of three Bulldawg players to average at least 9.0 points per game. She was also one of two Bulldawg players to register a minimum of 114 field goals made. Additionally, Herrera led the team in rebounds, assists, and steals per game! In 28 total games, she averaged 4.9 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 4.2 steals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["648210"],"_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-68b733c6bc167"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Brown is one of the better perimeter threats in the Class of 2026 and at the 5A level, having made 67 three-pointers to date. That said, she is a capable scorer off the bounce who can finish with either hand.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The expectation is that the 5'5" shooting guard will no longer be solely in the corners when operating in the half-court for the Matadors and will have the ball in her hands more often during her senior campaign. She is the only starter returning for Coach Kettig and the back-to-back State Champions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1056575"],"_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-68b733c6bc24a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Looking to build off the stellar second half of last season, Zuniga is a prime breakout candidate who is more than capable of delivering.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">To close out her junior year, she averaged 12.4 points per game over the final 13 games for Coach Villareal and the Hawks. Additionally, she happens to be the active leader in three-point percentage for the Class of 2026 (minimum of 60 games played). Zuniga has 67 three-pointers made across 62 games and has connected at a 33 percent clip.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>*Statistics via MaxPreps*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->