Photos by Ray Hamill/HumboldtSports.com

By Ray Hamill — Five of the nine H-DNL varsity teams are represented on this year’s list of finalists for the Humboldt Sports Boys Basketball Player of the Year.

With the season recently ending on a successful note when the St. Bernard’s boys took home a second NorCal championship in four seasons, it’s time to turn our attention to our end-of-season awards.

This weekend, Humboldt Sports will announce our annual boys and girls players of the year, our boys and girls teams of the year and our boys and girls coach of the year.

It was of course yet another memorable season for the local boys programs, with three schools enjoying big successes.

The Arcata boys were the best H-DNL team during the regular season as they rolled through the Big 5 undefeated on the way to a conference championship.

The McKinleyville boys, however, saved their best for last, dominating the Tigers in this year’s Dick Niclai tournament championship game on their way to a second title in just three seasons.

The history-making St. Bernard’s boys also saved their best for last.

The Crusaders continued to improve each week and followed an unbeaten run through the Little 4 with a Division-6 North Coast Section championship and a NorCal title.

It was the second time in four seasons that the Crusaders won both an NCS and NorCal double and they became the first team in H-DNL history to win a league, section and NorCal title in the same season.

As always, it was a difficult task limiting the list of finalists down to just seven candidates.

The list of standouts includes four seniors and three juniors.

Boys Player of the Year Finalists

Cole Armstrong

McKinleyville, Senior

Armstrong made his presence felt in multiple ways in his senior campaign, averaging 9.3 points and 5 rebounds a game, as well as 3.8 assists and 2.7 blocks. He closed out his high school career with another big season.

Bode Douglass

McKinleyville, Junior

Douglass played a pivotal role for the Panthers on their way to a Dick Niclai championship, and he led the team in points (14.0), as well as pulling down 5.7 boards a game.

Liam Dyer

St. Bernard’s, Junior

Another junior who enjoyed an outstanding campaign. Arguably the best shooter in the entire H-DNL, Dyer was named MVP of the Little 4 after leading the Crusaders to conference, North Coast Section and NorCal championships.

Luke Lemke

Arcata, Junior

After missing almost the entire pre-league portion of the season because of football commitments and injury, Lemke still made his presence felt on the way to the Big 5 championship and was once again one of the most dangerous and dynamic players in the H-DNL.

Will Mooney

Eureka, Senior

The Loggers’ emotional leader, Mooney sparked his teammates with some inspirational performances and closed out his high school career with an outstanding season. He led the team in scoring with 11.8 points a game.

Luke Moxon

Arcata, Senior

A two-time Big 5 MVP, including this season, Moxon was the most dangerous player on the best team in the H-DNL during the 2024/25 regular season and always had to be accounted for.

Brandon Romero

Hoopa, Senior

Another inspirational team leader, Romero meant as much to the Warriors as any player in the H-DNL meant to their team. He led the Warriors in scoring (12.3 points a game), assists (5.3) and steals (2.3) and was second with 6.5 rebounds a game.