Offensive Player of the Year: Marco Coello, Brownsville Lopez
Brownsville Lopez’s Marco Coello was easily one of the best dribble-penetrating guards and all-around offensive talents in the Valley this season.
Coello glided by the constant zone defenses that are a mainstay in the Valley, especially in district play when wins become crucial. Coello averaged 26 points, six assists, nine rebounds and four steals this season for the Lobos.
Coello is The Brownsville Herald’s 2023 All-Metro Boys Basketball Offensive Player of the Year.
”I achieved a lot of my goals this season,” Coello said. “When I am playing during the season, I try not to think about it too much, but at the end I go through my checklist.”
One of things off the checklist was a 2,000-career point milestone. Coello finished with more than 2,500 points as a star player for a Lobos program that barely missed out on the playoffs.
“As a team, we played great,” Coello said. “We definitely played past our expectations. We came up a little bit short, by one game. It came down to injuries and commitment. As a team we did well.”
| Brownsville Lopez’s Marco Coello is the Brownsville Herald’s Offensive Player of the Year. Photo taken at Brownsville Veterans Memorial High School. (Miguel Roberts/The Brownsville Herald) |
Defensive Player of the Year: Cleveland Smith, Port Isabel
The Smith Brothers — Christian, Jeffrey and Cleveland — balled out for the Tarpons this season as the team captured a District 32-4A championship.
Defense and 3-point shooting by the brothers paved the way, but Cleveland Smith was the standout this season of the three brothers, becoming the District 32-4A’s MVP and The Brownsville Herald’s 2023 All-Metro Boys Basketball Defensive Player of the Year.
Cleveland Smith averaged six steals a game this season. Smith turned those steals into points as well, scoring 18 points a game.
“We have to keep the pressure up top,” the guard said. “Me and Christian play a big part in that, in our zone defense.”
If Tarpons coach Gilbert Rodriguez needs to open it up and play a full-court press, Smith is a cross-country runner and can keep up with guards around South Texas.
Despite his success, Smith said he was slacking a bit this season and needs to step it up heading into his junior season.
| Port Isabel’s Cleveland Smith is the Brownsville Herald’s Defensive Player of the Year. Photo taken at Brownsville Veterans Memorial High School. (Miguel Roberts/The Brownsville Herald) |
Utility Player of the Year: Jj Salazar, Los Fresnos
Salazar solidified himself as one of the best all-around players in the Valley as a junior this season.
Salazar helped the Falcons return to playoffs, after missing out the previous season, with his ability to do it all. Salazar is The Brownsville Herald’s 2023 All-Metro Boys Basketball Utility Player of the Year.
Salazar averaged 18.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, four assists and two steals per game during the season. Salazar attributed most of his success offensively to the little things that his teammates do that he said “goes unnoticed.”
“My teammates put me in good positions to get steals, points and rebounds,” Salazar said. “Usually, there are situations where we have three guys boxing out and I will just come in, crash the board and get it. I think there is a lot of that. I just have to give props to my team.”
Salazar has high expectations for the Falcons after a bi-district playoff victory.
“The biggest thing is just to bring back a gold ball,” Salazar said. “This is going to be my fourth year, and that is something I really really want to do.”
| Los Fresnos’ Jj Salazar is the Brownsville Herald’s Utility Player of the Year. Photo taken at Brownsville Veterans Memorial High School. (Miguel Roberts/The Brownsville Herald) |
Newcomer of the Year: Beto Galarza, Brownsville Hanna
The Eagles had a senior-heavy ball club in 2022-23 that was very talented.
Ricardo Roman, first-team All-Metro and Kevin Flores, second-team All-Metro, were studs and mainstays on both sides of the court.
Galarza, a guard, forced his way on the court this season as a sophomore and is The Brownsville Herald’s 2023 All-Metro Boys Basketball Newcomer of the Year.
“It was a really good experience this season,” Galarza said. “The seniors, they really helped me out a lot. They taught me a lot of things that I can use for next season.”
As a sophomore, Galarza averaged eight points, four assists, three rebounds and one steal a game for the Eagles. Galarza is ready to step up his junior year for an Eagles team that will need him.
| Brownsville Hanna’s Beto Galarza is the Brownsville Herald’s Newcomer of the Year. Photo taken at Brownsville Veterans Memorial High School. (Miguel Roberts/The Brownsville Herald) |
Coach of the Year: Fermin Lucio, Brownsville Hanna
Brownsville Hanna’s boys basketball team was supposed to be good this season, but the game still needs to be played and the Eagles delivered.
In his sevent season with the Eagles, Fermin Lucio guided his team to a 29-win season, a BISD tourney title, a second-place finish in District 32-6A and a bi-district playoff win.
Lucio is The Brownsville Herald’s 2023 All-Metro Boys Basketball Coach of the Year.
“We did a lot of a great things,” Lucio said. “I was blessed with a great group of guys. A senior-led team with a combination of some young guys that really stepped up. I am just proud of them and blessed to be in this situation. This group of kids made the whole program look great. Overall, great season.”
| Brownsville Hanna head coach Fermin Lucio is the Brownsville Herald’s Coach of the Year. Photo taken at Brownsville Veterans Memorial High School. (Miguel Roberts/The Brownsville Herald) |
All-Metro First Team
Jimmy Navarro, Brownsville St. Joseph; Ricardo Roman, Brownsville Hanna; Gio Galvan, Los Fresnos; Tyler Rudder, Brownsville Pace; Jeffrey Smith, Port Isabel
All-Metro Second Team
Ezekiel Ibarra, Brownsville Lopez; Rodrigo Castaneda, Brownsville Veterans; Luis Ramirez, Los Fresnos; Christian Smith, Port Isabel; Kevin Flores, Brownsville Hanna