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. 15-20.
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 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:
Jestus Akudinobi, Ygnacio Valley basketball: The senior center scored 21 points, grabbed eight rebounds and blocked four shots in YV’s 67-62 win over McClymonds.
Aiden Barragan, Silver Creek soccer: The sophomore scored a goal in Silver Creek’s 2-2 tie with Harker.
Brady Clugage, Archbishop Mitty basketball: Clugage scored 24 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in Mitty’s 62-55 win over the King’s Academy.
Quaran Johnson Jr., Granada basketball: The freshman scored 16 points and hit the game-tying jumper in regulation to force overtime against Fremont-Oakland. Granada eventually won 72-70.
Thomas Jolly, Priory soccer: Jolly scored a goal to lead Priory to a 2-1 win over Santa Teresa.
Tua Montoya, Head-Royce basketball: The freshman scored 18 points in Head-Royce’s 65-33 win over Vallejo.
Kai Naito, Las Lomas soccer: The senior scored every one of Las Lomas’ goals in the Knights’ 4-1 win over Dublin.
Mattia Nucci, Leland basketball: Nucci scored 21 points, grabbed five rebounds and dished out four assists in Leland’s 57-49 win over Santa Teresa.
Nicolas Smok Blanchard, Berkeley soccer: Smok Blanchard scored Berkeley’s lone goal in its 1-0 win over Mt. Eden.
Jack Tobin, Woodside soccer: The sophomore scored two goals to lead Woodside to a 3-2 win over Burlingame.