Albuquerque City Rankings: (5-1)
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With the upcoming regular season approaching, now is a good time to break down city rankings across Albuquerque, Las Cruces, Rio Rancho and other cities in New Mexico. This will be part three of three in a series of articles…
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Continue ReadingWith the upcoming regular season approaching, now is a good time to break down city rankings across Albuquerque, Las Cruces, Rio Rancho and other cities in New Mexico. This will be part three of three in a series of articles focusing on players in Albuquerque. We’ll breakdown players ranked 5-1 in the ’23, ’24 and ’25 classes.
Highlights
#1. Bella Hines Bella Hines 5'10" | CG Eldorado | 2025 State NM the top rated player in New Mexico was an easy choice to select as #1 for the Albuquerque, City Rankings. Last season as a freshman Bella was sensational averaging 22.8 points per game. She was the second leading scorer in New Mexico and has gotten better as times gone by. Throughout the off-season, she received a floodgate of Division-1 offers to play at the next level in her basketball career. Bella is a scoring first point guard that has the complete offensive package in her game. She has amazing footwork and can create her own shot from anywhere on the floor. It is scary to think about how good Bella Hines Bella Hines 5'10" | CG Eldorado | 2025 State NM will be in a few years seeing where she already is now.
#2. Eva Love Eva Love 5'9" | SG La Cueva | 2024 State NM from the La Cueva Bears has a bright future ahead of her. Going into her junior season later next month, she is already an experienced varsity vet. Eva in her two years at La Cueva has made the 5A Girls State Tournament twice and is coming off a semifinals appearance this last spring. She averaged an impressive 13.1 points per game on a deep La Cueva Bears roster who had multiple key players last season. Eva led the squad in scoring and came within one game of the 5A State Championship. Even after the season, she stayed busy and made several college visits. Eva received her share of offers from several universities. She is a true “Go-to” scorer who leaves everything on the floor. Eva is a fearless driver of the basketball and plays through any physical contact inside the paint. She than opens up her game going full speed at you just to get easy pull up jumpers at the top of the key. Eva is in a small list of players considered as true franchise players to build around.
#3. Their is little debate as to who the top forward/center in the state is right now and that answer is easily Leilani Love. She is a force to be reckoned with on both sides of the floor and it starts with her will. Leilani was the only player in New Mexico last season to finish in both the top 10 in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots last year, she was in a class of her own. Leilani was a double-double machine putting up monster numbers averaging 19.3 points per game, 12.5 rebounds per game and 2.6 blocks per game. She was an unstoppable force every time she was in the paint on both ends of the floor.
#4. Sydney Benally Sydney Benally 5'9" | PG Sandia | 2025 State NM from the Sandia Matadors is arguably the most all-arounded player on this list. She is definitely one of the top two-way players that the Albuquerque community has today. Sydney is just as impactful on one end of the floor as the other. She is a dual-threat at the point guard position with her scoring and playmaking abilities. Sydney has a huge basketball IQ and knows how to find a balance in her being aggressive looking for her own shot and attacking too set up her teammates. Her on-ball defense is elite at staying in front of her opponent and causing havoc on that end of the floor. Sydney’s defense on that side of the floor also forces many turnovers and creates extra opportunities for the offense. I expect Sydney to have another big year for the Matadors.
#5. Last season was another successful year for Volcano Vista’s starting Center; Taejhuan Hill Taejhuan Hill 5'11" | C Volcano Vista | 2024 State NM . Her consistent play both ends of the floor helped the Hawks win their second consecutive 5A State Championship last season. Taejhuan averaged a solid 12 points per game and 8.1 rebounds per game as a sophomore last season. She is a paint beast and is a good inside scorer on the offensive end. Even if she misses a shot inside, she is quick on her feet to get offensive rebounds and put them back up for second chance points. Taejhuan also does a good job setting up her teammates after getting offensive rebounds. She is also a solid mid-range jump shooter who can space the floor for her teammates.