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. 30-Jan. 4.
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:
Gianni Clark, Washington-Fremont basketball: Clark made 11 of his 19 field goal attempts and totaled 25 points to lead Washington to a 64-45 win over American. Washington (9-3, 1-1) will go on the road to play Kennedy-Fremont on Tuesday.
Jorell Clark, Palo Alto basketball: The senior scored 25 points in Palo Alto’s 59-35 win over Mountain View. Palo Alto (10-2, 1-0) will travel to crosstown rival Gunn on Saturday.
Nate Coughlin, Serra soccer: Coughlin scored two goals and had an assist to lead Serra to a 3-0 win over Woodside. Serra, which is 4-1-1, is slated to play at St. Francis on Wednesday.
Mathys Joseph, College Park basketball: Joseph scored 21 points and grabbed 21 rebounds to lead College Park to a 61-57 win over Livermore. College Park (7-6, 0-1) will travel to Clayton Valley on Wednesday.
Xander Lee, San Ramon Valley soccer: Lee scored a goal in SRV’s 3-1 win over Las Lomas. The Wolves have won five of their last six matches and will play at Castro Valley on Tuesday.
Lucca Maher, Burlingame basketball: Maher scored a team-high 20 points, grabbed six rebounds and blocked a shot to lead Burlingame to a 74-60 win over Piedmont Hills. Burlingame (5-7) will play its first league game against Carlmont on Wednesday.
Zion Moore, Alameda basketball: Moore’s 26 points and eight rebounds helped lift Alameda to a 83-78 win over Hesperia. Alameda will carry an 8-5 record into its first league game against Berkeley on Thursday.
Jaylen Smith, Amador Valley basketball: The sophomore scored a team-high 16 points in Amador Valley’s 69-47 win over Freedom. Amador Valley enters its first league game against California on Friday with a 13-2 record.
Cole Taylor, Branham basketball: Taylor scored 14 points and grabbed nine rebounds in Branham’s 77-27 win over Oakland Military Institute. Branham entered this week with a 5-6 record.
Daniel Zepeda, Gilroy wrestling: The North Carolina State commit won the 153-pound crown at the Doc Buchanan Invitational.