Is there a league that values New Mexico high school athletes more than the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference?

Unlikely.

The RMAC's annual harvest of the top athletes from the 505 is decades old, decades successful.

At Adams State College, Ben Ellsworth of Santa Fe and Vera Jo Bustos of Las Vegas rest atop the list of all-time scorers in men's and women's basketball.

The Grizzlies' shelf of national championships in cross country is stuffed with Northern New Mexico runners, including Robbie Hipwood of Los Alamos and Peter Graham of Santa Fe, who are members of two halls of fame — Adams State and RMAC.

Victoria Martinez, Las Vegas Robertson graduate, ran on three national championship teams in cross country for Adams State, won 12 RMAC titles, and was a finalist for the 2006 NCAA Woman of the Year and 2006 Division II Female Athlete of the Year.

A dozen Albuquerque soccer players will be in uniform for the Fort Lewis College women in 2011, including Elena Benavidez, the 2008 Class A-AAA Player of the Year.

The list goes on. Pick any of the 14 schools in the RMAC and there is a root of success that was transplanted from New Mexico.

Enter, Christian Sacoman.

Sacoman, a 6-foot-2 shooting guard from Albuquerque Eldorado, is the latest to join the RMAC, signing a national letter-of-intent with Fort Lewis College. Sacoman joins the Skyhawks from Briercrest College in Caronport, Saskatchewan, where he spent last season.

Sacoman averaged 14 points per game for the Clippers. He set a school record for most 3-pointers in a season with 60. He twice earned Alberta Collegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Game honors and scored a career-best 29 points against the University of Regina.

Sacoman, who has three seasons remaining with Fort Lewis, also left his marks at Eldorado — most career 3-pointers (141), most 3-pointers in a season (63), consecutive free throws in a game (14-for-14). He ranks fifth all-time in Class AAAAA for most 3-pointers and is ninth on the Eldorado scoring list.

Sacoman and the Skyhawks should fit nicely.

The Skyhawks are coming off a 24-8 season and reached the NCAA Division II Sweet Sixteen for the first time in school history.

It was Fort Lewis' seventh postseason trip in the past 10 seasons.

"I chose Fort Lewis because of the tradition they have in the RMAC," Sacoman says. "They have been a really strong force and always have a chance to win the conference. I feel like I can add to the team in a positive way.

"Additionally, Albuquerque kids really excel at Fort Lewis and I'm looking forward to carrying on that tradition."

He's not alone.

Kody Salcido, Albuquerque Sandia Prep standout, also signed with the Skyhawks.

Just two more New Mexico seeds adding to the RMAC's growing success.