Area Breakdowns: Top Shooters in Northern NM

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The “Area Breakdown” Series is a new sub-column to the Class Rankings that takes a further look into specific regions of States or Cities, filled with intriguing players whos qualities on the court, are hard to ignore!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For area purposes and article formatting, the starting points will be Gallup, Santa Fe, Santa Rosa, &amp; Tucumcari, and of course everywhere north of those parts – <span style="text-decoration: underline;">There are several characteristics for this list, including, but not limited to,&nbsp;Total Points Scored, PPG, FGM, 3PM, 3P%.&nbsp;</span></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When assessing a shooter, there are typically three "boxes" or attributes a player must check off or possess in order to be considered a Top Shooter in the Basketball Community. Those boxes/attributes are usually as followed: <strong>1</strong>- the ability to get open: Does the player get enough or any separation from opposing defenders, ex when coming off of screens such as pin downs, curls, flares | <strong>2</strong>- the shooting motion and form: Does the player have consistent mechanics, ex arc, balance, lift, rotation | <strong>3</strong>- the shooting percentages: Does the player have proficient shooting percentages from the field, ex FG% 3P% FT%. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>*This article ranking is based solely on “<strong><em>Shooting</em></strong>” ability – Ranking is&nbsp;<strong><em>not</em></strong>&nbsp;a pure indication of&nbsp;<strong><em>overall talent</em></strong><em>&nbsp;</em>for Class Level or Grade Year*</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"center"} --> <p class="has-text-align-center"><strong>#1</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_6307b8f6bbfe4","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["391175"],"_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_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='391175' first='Alexus' last='Lafferty'] is a <strong>versatile </strong>shooting guard that earned a 2A: All-State 2nd Team selection for the Tucumcari Lady Rattlers, a season ago. Lafferty, who appeared in only 22 games, scored close to <span style="text-decoration: underline;">350 Total Points</span> on the year, averaging over <span style="text-decoration: underline;">15 ppg</span>. Out of all returning players for the upcoming winter 22-23 season, Lafferty ranks 4th in the entire state amongst the best 3pt shooters, thanks to her <span style="text-decoration: underline;">63 made 3s</span>. Lafferty will look to lead the Lady Rattlers to the playoffs once again and continue putting up superb numbers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"center"} --> <p class="has-text-align-center"><strong>#2</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_6307b896bbfe3","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["353913"],"_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_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kamalani is a terrific Point Guard who stretches the floor for the Farmington Lady Scorpions. Anitielu appeared in 28 games, scoring over <span style="text-decoration: underline;">350+ Total Points</span> while connecting on <span style="text-decoration: underline;">50 three pointers</span>, primarily in <strong>catch &amp; shoot </strong>situations. Kamalani earned a 5A: All-State 2nd Team Selection thanks to her stellar play this last season and will now look to take on a bigger workload for her Senior year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"center"} --> <p class="has-text-align-center"><strong>#3</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_6307b922bbfe5","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["391105"],"_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_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='391105' first='Caylee' last='Benavidez'] is a <strong>promising</strong> underclassman who appeared in 24 games at the varsity level for Tucumcari HS. Benavidez, is a double digit scorer, who is just north of <span style="text-decoration: underline;">11 ppg</span>. Caylee formed a nice duo alongside [player_tooltip player_id='391175' first='Alexus' last='Lafferty'] as a reliable second option that connected on <span style="text-decoration: underline;">36 total 3s</span> on the year. The expectation is that Benavidez can and will take a big step this upcoming season for the Lady Rattlers. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"center"} --> <p class="has-text-align-center"><strong>#4</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_6307b98abbfe6","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["458569"],"_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_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='458569' first='Ciprianna' last='Garcia'] was one of two players from Escalante HS to earn an All-State First Team Selection at the 2A Level in 2022. Garcia is a <strong>rhythm shooter </strong>that plays with a lot of confidence. Ciprianna has a smooth jump shot, both behind the arc, and in the midrange making her hard to defend. Ciprianna should be a lock for another All-State Selection for her upcoming season year and will look to help Escalante get back to the Title Game in 2A. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"align":"center"} --> <p class="has-text-align-center"><strong>#5</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_6307ba1abbfe7","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["353930"],"_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_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='353930' first='Daelyn' last='Pacheco'] is an intriguing player that is <strong>flying under the radar</strong>; Pacheco scored <span style="text-decoration: underline;">250+ Total Points</span> for Santa Rosa who made the 2A State Playoffs as the #7 overall seed. Daelyn finished her Junior Year with <span style="text-decoration: underline;">38 made 3s</span> in 26 games played. Daelyn has a very good chance of increasing her production going into her Senior Year and is only one of a handful of players capable of connecting on 40+ threes on a season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->