St. Francis High senior point guard/forward Nash Horton was all over the basketball court. His nonstop hustle and heart allowed the Sharks to accomplish a special season.

Nash, who is committed to play baseball at NCAA Division I Pepperdine University, was voted MVP or the Pacific Coast Athletic League’s Cypress Division after leading the Sharks to the title. He didn’t play hoops last season.

“As an athlete and a competitor, my goal every day is to be my best self,” Horton said. “This was another goal of mine. I know I can be the best athlete on the court and I know I can be the best player on the court. It was my goal to win MVP, like it was last (time) and like it is for this upcoming baseball season. It really means a lot to me to come to a sport I missed last year and be the best teammate I can be and be the best person I can be, day in and day out. I’m really grateful the other coaches can see that and that my coach saw that in me. … I think that’s really the big part for me, my impact can have on other people. I hope it reflects how me and my team got a long, how I was able to help my team out, and also, personally, I’ve worked very hard for it.”

The Sharks (22-4 overall, 12-0 league) went unbeaten in league play for the first time since ’17 and won the Cypress crown for the second time in three years. Horton was also a member of the last championship team.

The No. 5 seed Sharks were eliminated in the Central Coast Section Division V quarterfinals by No. 4 Oakwood, the defending section champion, on Feb. 25.

“I told him after this last game, “Thank you,” said Robert Gomez, the Sharks’ first-year head coach.

“When his name got brought up for MVP, everybody in the league was like, ‘I thought I had a guy who had a chance, and then I saw Nash,’ ” Gomez said. “I think they all know. And, for everything that he does, he’s a better kid. I told the kids all year long, ‘Watch the way he carries himself, the way he does things and learn from it.’ A Division I athlete just does things different. Just because it’s a different sport, just watch the way he works, watch how he’s the first one in the gym, watch how he doesn’t take days off … He didn’t use baseball ever as an excuse. He didn’t go half speed. He just goes crazy all game long and sets himself apart.”

Horton not only averaged a team-leading 21.12 points per game, he hit the glass and was the team’s top rebounder, he recorded steals, scored in transition, buried 3-points, blocked shots … He did it all.

That said, his stats could’ve been better. Often in league play, when the Sharks were destroying their opponent, Horton only played half or 3/4 of a game.

Gomez believes Horton can also played basketball at the next level, noting that as athletic as his senior is, he had a motor, too. Surprisingly, sometimes that got Horton into trouble this season.

“First half of league, we’d have a referee who hadn’t seen him before and he’d get the crazy foul calls on him because he moved a different speed than everybody else,” his coach said.

Horton finished with one quadruple-double, five triple-doubles, and 15 double-doubles.

“Basketball has a different intensity that baseball,” Horton said. “And I loved it. I loved this whole season. We had a great team, we had great chemistry. We were seriously a family. Our seniors loved each other. I don’t regret not playing last season but I will say this season was a lot of fun.”

Horton takes care of himself on and off the court. He said he’s watching after his diet better, though he treats himself to an occasion cheat meal. He stretches before going to bed, and take cold plunges to he his body recover.

He offered this piece of advice: “If anybody younger is reading this, get at least eight hours of sleep. It will seriously change your life. Sleep has been a major thing in my development recently and helped me bring all my energy to the court every day.”

Horton was joined on the first team by Sharks junior guard Robert Gomez.

Mission Division

Watsonville junior Max Aceves was named Guard of the Year after leading the Wildcatz (18-8, 12-2) to a share of the Mission Division title and the CCS playoffs for the first time since ’17.

He averaged 20.1 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.1 steals and helped the Wildcatz win their first postseason game since ’11.

“Max was consistent all season,” Wildcatz coach Andre Bailey said. “He wasn’t the main focus of other teams and by the time they figured it out, he had found his rhythm. He cuts with character and does not stand and wait for the ball. In an era where everyone has a tendency to over-dribble, Max is very consistent when it comes to not wasting his dribbles.”

North Monterey County senior Kenji Mellin was named MVP of the Mission Division after leading the Condors (17-8, 11-2) to a share of the crown. Rancho San Juan senior forward Andrew Hale was chosen Impact Player of the Year for the fourth-place Trailblazers (14-12, 8-6).

Aceves was joined on the first team by Wildcatz junior guard Leon Madec.

Santa Lucia Division

Ceiba senior guard Anthony Toriz was named Offensive MVP of the Santa Lucia Division, the bottom tier of the equity league. He averaged 28 points, four 3-pointers and five steals per game for the Spartans (1-13, 1-9) and finished his career having scored more than 1,500 points.

“He’s a go-getter, a tremendously talented athlete, and a responsible young man with a work ethic that’s unmatched,” Spartans coach Nat Leyva said. “He’s the type of player who would live in the gym, if it were a job. He’s going to be deeply missed at Ceiba.”

Toriz earned all-league first-team honors all four years. He scored a single-game career-high 58 points against Seaside’s Chartwell School as a sophomore, and was the division’s Offensive Player of the Year as a junior. His ’25 single-game high was 38 points against Trinity Christian.

For a third straight season, Toriz was the focal point of opposing defense. It was a given that he was going to be double-teamed, but, at times, he faced triple or even quadruple coverage.

“Beyond the stats, Anthony is one of the most respectable young men I’ve had the privilege to coach,” said Leyva, noting that he took over as coach in Toriz’s freshman season and made sure to see his star sharpshooter through until graduation. “I hope he continues to inspire those around him, as he has inspired me to keep growing and to give it my all, no matter the score. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for him. It has truly been a blessing to be around this young man.”

York sophomore Gianni Zeljo was named MVP of the Santa Lucia after he averaged 21.9 points and 9.1 rebounds and led the Falcons (13-7, 10-0) to its first league title in 20 years. Freshman teammate Dedome Demagbo was chosen Defensive MVP.

Toriz was joined by Pajaro Valley senior Carlos Escobar, and Kirby senior Rain Li on the first team. Li became the first player in program history to earn first-team honors all four years.

Gabilan Division

Carmel senior forward Simeon Brown was named MVP after leading the Padres (20-8, 12-2) to the title in the Gabilan Division, the top tier of the PCAL. Padres senior guard Warren Blut averaged a team-high 19.3 points per game and was named Offensive Player of the Year. Monterey senior center Jamar Aquino was chosen Defensive Player of the Year after leading the Toreadores (19-6, 11-3) to second place.