The Snyder News All-Decade series

The Snyder News All-Decade series looks back on Snyder Tiger boys’ basketball and the best players to take the court for the program in the past decade.
First Team
Teafale Lenard
(2018 to 2020)
Kicking things off is arguably the best Tiger player of the past decade. At six-foot-six, Lenard possessed a unique skill set. He had the size of a post player and the athleticism of a guard, creating a headache for opposing defenses. During his time as a Tiger, his high-flying dunks and clutch 3-pointers made him an entertaining player to watch.
Lenard made an impact as a sophomore in 2018. Playing with senior Barron Wesley and junior Nathan Kendrick, Lenard averaged nine points per game and earned all-district honorable mention.
In 2019, Lenard teamed up with classmates Jayden Samaniego and Alonzo Wesley to form one of the more dynamic teams in recent Snyder history. The 2019 Snyder Tigers went 28-7 en route to a district championship, bi-district title and an appearance in the area playoffs. Lenard was named the district’s defensive player of the year and averaged 10 points per game, trailing only Wesley in scoring.
In his senior season in 2020, alongside Samaniego, he helped lead the Tigers to their second consecutive district title, was named the district MVP and earned all-region honors. His 15 points per game led the Tigers and he averaged 4.4 rebounds and 2 blocks a game.
Lenard is committed to Link Year Prep to begin his collegiate basketball career.
Alonzo Wesley
(2017 to 2019)
Wesley shined his senior season in 2019. After bursting onto the scene as a sophomore in 2017 with second team all-district honors, Wesley put it all together as a senior in 2019. He averaged 18 points per game in 2019, which led the Tigers. Wesley was the catalyst of the 2019 team that snapped a district title drought spanning 12 years.
Wesley was named the District MVP and earned all-region honors as a senior. He signed with Northwest Kansas Technical College to play collegiate basketball.
Dralon Jackson
(2014 to 2016)
Perhaps the most prolific scorer of the decade, Jackson knew how to light up a scoreboard.
In his first varsity season in 2014, Jackson averaged 9.8 points per game and as a sophomore, was named to the all-district second team.
The district learned just how explosive Jackson was in 2015. As a junior he averaged 20.9 points per game and scored in the double digits in all but one game. Against Lamesa, Jackson scored 35 points, a career high.
After a standout junior season, he was even better as a senior. Jackson increased his points per game average to 22 and strengthened his play on the defensive end of the court, recording seven rebounds and two steals per game. Jackson finished his career with a scoring average per game of 17.5 and was named to three all-district teams.
Malik Davis
(2012 to 2014)
While the team struggled during his three-year tenure as a Tiger, Davis, a three-year starter, was the go-to scorer for the Tigers in the early part of the decade. He earned second team honors in his sophomore and junior seasons, and led the Tigers in scoring as both a junior and a senior. As a senior, he averaged 14.4 points per game with four rebounds, two assists and two steals. He was named first team all-district. After high school, Davis stayed home to play basketball for Western Texas College.
Jayden Samaniego
(2018-2020)
A hard-nosed guard, Samaniego was the prototypical point guard that fit head coach Lee Scott’s offense perfectly. Unafraid to drive into the paint, Samaniego paired well with fellow senior Teafale Lenard. In the duo’s three years on varsity, the Tigers went 57-36 and won back-to-back district titles. As a junior, Samaniego earned first team honors after scoring seven points per game.
Playing alongside Lenard and district MVP Alonzo Wesley, the Tigers won both the district and bi-district crowns. In his senior season, Samaniego took on more of the offensive load. He averaged 10.8 points per game, second only to Lenard. He also averaged 3.4 assists and three rebounds per game. Samaniego finished his career with two district titles and two all-district accolades.
Second Team
Nathan Kendrick
(2018 to 2019)
While Kendrick shined on the gridiron, he was a solid basketball player as well. As a junior in 2018, Kendrick averaged 9.5 points per game and earned second team all-district honors. As a senior, he played a big role in the program’s district title, scoring 6.7 points per game and securing first team all-district honors.
Robbie Rinehart
(2012)
Another player who shined during the program’s lean years, Rinehart was the Tigers’ best player in 2012. He led the Tigers in scoring and was named first team all-district. He and sophomore Malik Davis were the only Tigers to make the all-district team in 2012.
Christian Gaona
(2018 to 2019)
Gaona played a role in the Tigers’ drought-snapping district title in 2019, averaging 7.6 points per game and earning second team all-district honors. A two-year varsity player, Gaona was an honorable mention in 2018 after he averaged 5.5 points per game.
Honorable mentions
Eber Murillo
(2020 to present)
Barron Wesley
(2018)
Zach Miller
(2020 to present)
Next week, we turn the attention to the Lady Tigers’ basketball players as The Snyder News All-Decade series continues.