‘Ultimate competitor’ Luke Moxon earns second Big 5 MVP award

By barstoolfanatics on March 13, 2025 • ( Leave a comment )

Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com

By Ray Hamill — For the second time in three seasons Arcata’s Luke Moxon has been named MVP of the Big 5 in boys basketball, the league announced on Thursday.

The senior standout, who also received the honor as a sophomore, led the Tigers to this year’s Big 5 championship with both his play on the court and attitude off of it.

He was not only the best player in the Big 5 this season, but arguably the best player in the entire H-DNL.

And, according to his head coach Kellen Maynard, it is a well-deserved honor.

“I think it’s all the intangibles with Luke,” Maynard said. “Not only is he a great scorer and a great defender, but he’s a great leader.

“He was always first in line for drills, always first in line to volunteer for something, always first in line to get after me or get after guys for something. He really held people accountable.”

Moxon led the Tigers to an undefeated conference record and to the Dick Niclai tournament championship game.

And after missing almost all of his junior year because of injury, he returned with a bang this winter and closed out his high school career in style.

But it was his approach to the game that really set him apart from his peers.

“He’s the ultimate competitor,” Maynard said. “In practice and in games he never quit, he never let up, he always gives 110 percent no matter what.”

Moxon intends on continuing his playing career on the college courts and not surprisingly for a player of his talents he is receiving plenty of interest.

Luke Moxon

Dawson Vallerga, left, and Bode Douglass

Luke Lemke

According to his coach, Moxon is still weighing his options.

The standout senior was one of five Arcata players to receive all-league recognition.

Teammates Luke Lemke, who was last year’s Big 5 MVP, and Dawson Vallerga each also were named to the all-league team.

Dayquan Dunn and Levi Sims each also received an all-league honorable mention for the conference champs.

The McKinleyville Panthers pushed the Tigers all the way to the final week before finishing second in this year’s Big 5.

The Panthers have two all-league first-team selections, with senior Cole Armstrong joining junior Bode Douglass among the honorees.

Seniors Will Mooney and Elijah Estrada also were named to the all-league team for the Eureka Loggers, who placed third in conference.

Del Norte’s Lyon Rigden also was named all-league for the second straight year, while Jack Stacy got the nod for the Fortuna boys after an outstanding season for the Huskies.