Editor’s note: We prohibit the use of bots and any other artificial methods of voting. Suspicious activity could lead to the disqualification of candidates and a permanent suspension of the Athlete of the Week poll.
Welcome to the Bay Area News Group (Mercury News & East Bay Times) boys Athlete of the Week poll.
For the entire academic year, we will provide a list of candidates who stood out over the previous week and allow you, the reader, to vote for the winner.
This week, we consider performances from Jan. 2-7.
Polls close at 5 p.m. Wednesday.
Vote as many times as you’d like until then without using bots or any other artificial methods of voting.
Votes by email are not counted.
Scroll to the bottom for the poll.
Winners are announced each Friday online and, starting Sept. 30, in the print edition of the Mercury News and East Bay Times sports sections.
Candidates for future Athlete of the Week polls can be nominated at highschools@bayareanewsgroup.com.
We accept nominations until 11 a.m. each Monday.
We also review stats submitted to MaxPreps by coaches/team statisticians.
On to the nominees:
Ricardo Aceves, Newark Memorial soccer: In his team’s 3-1 non-league victory over Granada, the junior scored twice as the Cougars won their second in a row to enter this week with a 5-6 overall record. They are 3-1 in league play.
Rudy Cruz, Hayward soccer: The junior finished with a hat trick — three goals — as Hayward defeated crosstown rival Tennyson 7-1 to run its record to 7-2-2 overall and 5-0 in league play. Cruz began this week with six goals and two assists for the season.
Blake Hudson, Dougherty Valley basketball: The 6-3 senior had 21 points and 12 rebounds in a 75-38 victory over Kennedy-Fremont and 20 points, 12 rebounds, four assists and three blocks in a 63-38 win over Berkeley as the top-ranked Wildcats improved to 15-1.
Luke Isaak, San Ramon Valley basketball: The sophomore scored 30 points as the second-ranked Wolves improved to 15-1 with an 89-79 victory at home in Danville over Oakland.
JP Kerrigan, Sacred Heart Prep basketball: The junior led the Gators with 15 points as they edged Menlo-Atherton 52-51 in overtime. The victory improved SHP’s record to 5-4.
Jake King, Clayton Valley basketball: In a 68-62 win over College Park, the 6-5 senior was 7-of-9 from 3-point range and 8-of-8 from the free-throw line, finishing with 33 points. He began this week averaging 18.1 points per game for a team that is 13-2 overall and 2-0 in the Diablo Athletic League Foothill Division.
Arnav Mahadev, Monta Vista soccer: The junior scored two goals to lead Monta Vista past Gilroy 3-1 on Saturday and also scored in a 4-2 loss to Milpitas earlier in the week. He began this week with seven goals on the season for a team that is 4-4-1.
Jasir Rencher, Archbishop Riordan basketball: Taking on a larger role after King-Njhsanni Wilhite transferred to a Las Vegas prep academy, the 6-5 sophomore scored 19 points in a 57-38 victory over St. Francis and 11 in a 63-52 win over St. Ignatius. The Crusaders are 9-2 overall and 2-0 in the West Catholic Athletic League.
Logan Robeson, Campolindo basketball: After missing two games because of illness, the 6-3 senior filled the stat sheet — 19 points, seven rebounds, five assists — as Campo defeated Northgate 65-56 in a Diablo Athletic League Foothill Division opener. The Cougars improved to 9-4, 1-0.
Derek Sangster, Archbishop Mitty basketball: The Princeton-bound star returned from a wrist injury that sidelined him for six games to lead the San Jose powerhouse to victories over Bellarmine and Serra to open West Catholic Athletic League play, The senior scored 16 points in a 54-33 win over Serra and 19 in a 71-57 win over Bellarmine as Mitty improved to 10-2, 2-0.
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