Latina Girls Athlete of the Year: Aaliyah Chavez

Aaliyah Chavez continues to prove why she is the top ranked girls basketball player in the Class of 2025. The Mexican American from Lubbock is a highlight machine.

Chavez plays with the flair and tenacity of a Kobe Bryant or Caitlin Clark, drawing scholarship offers from every major women’s basketball powerhouse.

The silky smooth guard is Our Esquina’s 2023 High School Girls Athlete of the Year. Chavez filled her trophy with personal accolades in 2023.Aaliyah Chavez also led Lubbock Monterey High within a victory from a chance for the state championship, 

Aaliyah Chavez rewrites record books

Midway through her junior season, Chavez is already her school’s all-time scoring leader. By the end of the 2022-2023 season – her sophomore campaign – she had scored the most points in a season (1,020) and the most career points (2021). 

She recorded the most three pointers in a single game (13), in a season (140), and in a career (258). 

The 5-foot-10 guard took home 11 different awards in 2023. Nationally she garnered the TABC All-Region, TABC All-State, SBLive National Player of the Year. She was also a third-team Naismith High School Girls All America Team selection.

In recent tournaments she earned the Allen Tournament MVP, the McDonald’s Classic MVP, the Caprock Tournament MVP, and the Regional Tournament All-Tournament. On a local level she secured the District Most Valuable Player and All-City Most Valuable Player.

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With her father Sonny Chavez as her coach, Aaliyah is set to surpass her numbers from the previous year. Midway through her junior year she is averaging an astonishing 38.1 points per game, 9.9 rebounds per game, and 3.8 assists per game. She has led the Scarlet Plainsmen to a 14-5 record.

The only item missing in Chavez’s trophy case is a state championship. Coming one win away from state surely leaves a bad taste for Chavez and her team. This year they aim to win state with their captain leading the way. 

Runner-up Melody Acevedo

Shortstop Melody Acevedo is the top ranked softball player in the Class of 2025. The junior has been one of the best shortstops in America since her freshman year.

Coach Tarr, Coach Glasoe Coach Vic, Coach Gano, and Sis! Thank you all for this! You showed me that we can continue to play as a family on the field. I can't wait to play for you.
I always knew I was an animal on the field! Go Dawgs 💜@CoachTarr @lglasoe @UWSoftball #TonyRico pic.twitter.com/Z2a3jZvyhH

— Melody Acevedo (@meloace6) September 25, 2023

Acevedo hit the game-winning home run to lead Hillcrest High to its first California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section title as a freshman.

She was an All-CIF Southern Section selection as a sophomore, and it won’t be surprising if she’s the CIF Southern Section Player of the Year multiple seasons before she’s done.