Area Breakdown: Southern Top Players
In this article:
The ‘Area Breakdown’ series is a subseries related to the latest rankings update. Recognizing players and their individual talents from specific regions in New Mexico. For area purposes and article formatting, the South will consist of counties extending from Socorro…
Access all of Prep Girls Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThe ‘Area Breakdown’ series is a subseries related to the latest rankings update. Recognizing players and their individual talents from specific regions in New Mexico.
For area purposes and article formatting, the South will consist of counties extending from Socorro to Curry, down to Lea & Eddy county, then back to Dona Ana & Hidalgo. Notable schools included are Deming, Hobbs, Mayfield, and Tucumcari.
Here are some the top players from southern New Mexico:
Player | Year | School |
Bhret Clay Bhret Clay 5'9" | SG Hobbs | 2025 State NM | 2025 | Hobbs |
Brynn Hargrove Brynn Hargrove 5'6" | PG Hobbs | 2025 State NM | 2025 | Hobbs |
Kyndle Cunningham Kyndle Cunningham 6'0" | PF Hobbs | 2025 State NM | 2025 | Hobbs |
Caylee Benavidez Caylee Benavidez 5'6" | PF Tucumcari | 2025 State NM | 2025 | Tucumcari |
Nakia Mojica Nakia Mojica 5'6" | CG Hobbs | 2025 State NM | 2025 | Hobbs |
Aleena Rodriguez Aleena Rodriguez 5'7" | SF Eunice | 2025 State NM | 2025 | Eunice |
Jazlene Ruiz Jazlene Ruiz 5'5" | PG Mayfield | 2025 State NM | 2025 | Mayfield |
Ceanna McKines Ceanna McKines PF Mayfield | 2026 State NM | 2026 | Mayfield |
Harper Dunn Harper Dunn 6'6" | C Corona/Vaughn | 2027 State NM | 2027 | Corona/Vaughn |
Jacqueline Aguayo Jacqueline Aguayo SG Deming | 2025 State NM | 2025 | Deming |
Clay is a physical slashing playmaker that influences the tempo on both ends of the floor.
This past season, Bhret was named the Player of the Year for District 4-5A and was the Lady Eagles leading scorer (11.6 points per game) during the 2024 State Tournament. Entering her senior year, Clay who is a Two-Time All-State Selection (2023 & 2024) has seven total offers, ranging from Division I-II.
Division I: Abilene Christian, Central Arkansas, SMU, UTSA
Division II: Eastern New Mexico, Western New Mexico, West Texas A&M
Hargove is a playmaking shot creator who makes the game easier for her teammates. As of today, the 5’6” PG has two offers — NMHU & Mary Hardin-Baylor — on the table. Hargrove has crisp footwork, great vision and the ability to score at multiple levels.
The Two-Time All-State Guard (2023 & 2024) posted 12.0 points per game during the 2024 State Tournament, which was the second most for the Lady Eagles (26-4) who reached the 5A Final Four.
Kyndle is a two-way playmaker who anchors the defense for the Lady Eagles.
Cunningham, who averaged 11.3 points and 6.6 rebounds during the 2024 State Tournament, was an All-State Second Team Selection in 2023-24 thanks to her ability to provide timely buckets on offense, while also getting stops on defense.
The 6’0″ PF/C has four collegiate offers, all coming from the Division II level. Eastern New Mexico (ENMU) Colorado State University-Pueblo (CSU-P), Western New Mexico (WNMU) and West Texas A&M.
Benavidez is a skilled two-way playmaker that continuously stuffs the stat-sheet for the Lady Rattlers.
For her career, Benavidez has totaled 1110 points and 13 double-doubles. In 89 games played, Caylee has posted a cool 12.5 points per game, in addition to 5.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 2.7 steals and 1.4 blocks.
Mojica is one of the deadliest sharpshooters in the State and the current record holder for 3PM at Hobbs. Nakia has totaled 130+ 3-Pointers to this point, providing the Lady Eagles with much needed spacing out on the perimeter.
The 5’6″ CG averaged 10.3 points per game during the 2024 State Tournament and was offered by New Mexico Highlands University (NMHU) back in April. The Cowgirls are a Division II program, located in Las Vegas, N.M.
Rodriguez is a 3PT specialist — Eunice record holder for 3PM (72) in a single season (2023-24) and career 3PM (193) — that can torch opposing teams from DEEP.
This past season, Rodriguez averaged 17.0 points per game with 8.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists. The soon-to-be senior has been offered by the University of the Southwest, an NAIA program, located in Hobbs, N.M.
Ruiz is a physical two-way playmaker that shines as an on-ball defender. Jazlene does a tremendous job of forcing opposing ball-handlers to get sped-up, particularly when Mayfield utilizes a full-court press and when they are in SLOB — sideline out-of-bounds — situations.
Ruiz has made 70 appearances for Mayfield, averaging 9.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.3 assists and a whopping 3.0 steals per game.
Ceanna is a budding slashing-four that emerged as a reliable option in the halfcourt for the Lady Trojans.
For the 2023-24 season, McKines averaged a steady 11.0 points and 8.0 rebounds, logging seven double-doubles. For her career, Ceanna has posted 6.9 points per game with 5.7 rebounds and 1.2 steals.
Dunn is a towering force in the interior who has logged an impressive 34 double-doubles AND 11 triple-doubles in just 43 games played!!
The 6’6″ soon-to-be Sophomore has averaged a staggering 18.6 points, 16.4 rebounds and 7.4 blocks for Corona/Vaughn, while totaling 799 points, 705 rebounds and 318 blocks.
Harper is already garnering interest at the Division I level with New Mexico State University (NMSU) and Wichita State University (WSU) knocking at her door.
Aguayo is another 3PT specialist who had a breakout junior year for the Wildcats. For the 2023-24 season, Jacqueline put up 13.1 points per game with 43 3PM on 36/43 splits (FG%/3P%).
For her career, Aguayo has averaged 11.9 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 3.3 steals in 31 games played.
The 'Area Breakdown' series is a subseries related to the latest rankings update. Recognizing players and their individual talents from specific regions in New Mexico.
Access all of Prep Girls Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue Reading