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. No voting by email: Votes by email and after 5 p.m. Wednesday are not counted.
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. 4-9.
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 and after 5 p.m. Wednesday are not counted.
Scroll to the bottom for the poll.
Winners are announced each Friday online and 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 [email protected].
We accept nominations until 11 a.m. each Monday.
We also review stats submitted to MaxPreps by coaches/team statisticians.
On to the nominees:
Elijah Alexander, Skyline basketball: The 6-foot-5 senior had a huge week, averaging 22 points, 18 rebounds, three assists, two blocks and two steals while leading Skyline to three victories in four games.
Sully Bailey, Acalanes football: Shook off an injured knee suffered during the game to lead his team to the CIF Division 3-AA state championship with a 35-23 victory over Birmingham of Lake Balboa at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo. The senior finished 23 of 36 for 290 yards and four touchdowns.
Nate Coughlin, Serra soccer: The junior scored two goals in the Padres’ 3-1 victory over Menlo-Atherton and had a goal and an assist in a 4-3 victory over Woodside. Serra began this week 3-0.
Toa Faavae, De La Salle football: In a 27-14 loss to Mission Viejo for the CIF Division 1-AA state championship at Saddleback College, the junior quarterback ran for 162 yards and a touchdown and passed for 106 yards.
Alvin Loving IV, Salesian basketball: Splashed a 30-foot 3-pointer at the buzzer to give Salesian a 63-60 victory over Branson in the Gridley Invitational final. Loving finished with seven points. In the semifinals against Clovis North, he had 18 points, grabbed eight rebounds and had five assists.
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A.J. Minyard, Los Gatos football: Led the Wildcats on a wild comeback that fell just short in the CIF Division 2-A state title game as Central Valley Christian-Visalia held on for a 45-42 victory at Pasadena City College. In the fourth quarter, the senior threw for 244 yards and two touchdowns and ran for a touchdown.
James Moore, Clayton Valley Charter basketball: Helped lead the Ugly Eagles to a 70-60 victory over San Ramon Valley at the Gridley Invitational, finishing with 20 points. Clayton Valley began this week 3-2.
Eric Preston, Pinole Valley soccer: The sophomore scored both of his team’s goals in its 2-0 victory over Kennedy-Richmond. In the previous game, he had a goal and an assist as Pinole Valley beat San Lorenzo 4-1.
Alessandro Velazquez, Menlo School soccer: The senior scored twice — on a free kick and an assist from Yasin Abdulkariem — as Menlo tied Los Gatos 3-3 in the third round of the Sunnyvale Cup.
Raymond Whitley, St. Ignatius basketball: Scored 18 points as St. Ignatius won a thriller over University-San Francisco 75-74. SI improved to 4-1 on the season.
