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.
Scheduling note: After today, we are pausing the Athlete of the Week poll until after the holidays. The next poll will be posted on Jan. 9.
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 Dec. 12-17.
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:
Taj Gil, James Logan soccer: The senior had three goals and three assists as the Colts breezed past Irvington 10-0 in Mission Valley Athletic League play. He also had a goal and an assist in a 6-0 win over Mission San Jose as James Logan improved to 4-4 overall and 3-1 in league play.
Jonah Guardino, Archbishop Mitty soccer: Facing the Bay Area News Group’s top-ranked team on the road, the sophomore came off the bench and scored in the 84th minute on a counterattack to lift the 13th-ranked Monarchs to a 1-0 victory over De La Salle.
Kellen Hampton, Moreau Catholic basketball: The 6-foot-7 sophomore scored 26 points on 11-of-17 shooting and had 13 rebounds as Moreau cruised past James Logan 89-68 in Mission Valley Athletic League play. Hampton is averaging 21.3 points and 9.5 rebounds per game. The Mariners improved to 4-2, 2-0.
Seiichi Naddy, Concord wrestling: Finished first in the 160-pound classification of the 14th Bill Martell Invitational at Northgate, edging Max Bantiuc of Las Lomas 6-5 in the final.
Adam Nakai, Santa Teresa basketball: The junior guard filled up the stat sheet in an 86-79 victory over Alisal, finishing with 29 points on 13-of-20 shooting, five rebounds, four steals, two assists and two blocks. Santa Teresa ended the week 5-4 on the season. Nakai is averaging 18.2 points and 6.5 rebounds per game.
Kevin Romo, Richmond soccer: Helped the Oilers improve to 2-0 in Tri-County Athletic League Rock Division play, scoring two goals in the second half as Richmond beat St. Mary’s-Berkeley 2-0. The Oilers began this week with a 3-1 overall record.
Nicholas Ruiz, Benicia soccer: In a 3-2 non-league victory over Armijo, the senior scored two goals. He leads his team in scoring with five goals and four assists. Benicia began this week with a 5-2 record.
Jon Taylor, The King’s Academy basketball: The senior guard scored 35 points as the Knights rolled past Independence 79-43 in the first round of the Fremont-Sunnyvale tournament. In the final, he led the way with 22 points as TKA defeated Fremont 71-55 to improve to 10-0.
Mehki Thomas, Dublin basketball: He was named the MVP of the Don Nelson Classic at Dublin after he finished with 16 points, nine rebounds and four steals to lead the Gaels past previously undefeated Placer 63-47 in the championship game. Dublin improved to 8-3.
Tariq Weiser, Bellarmine basketball: Scored 25 points to lead the Bells to a 78-73 victory over Sacred Heart Prep at the DJ Frandsen tournament on Saturday at Bellarmine. The win improved the Bells’ record to 3-2.
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