JJ and Alek Sanchez estimate they’ve played more than 1,000 basketball games together.

The twin brothers have always been on the same team. It started in the fifth grade, carried through in AAU ball, summer and spring leagues and has continued in their 115 games together at Montgomery High School.

Soon, however, the partnership that has led to a 95-20 high school record will end.

The Sanchez twins are being recruited to play college basketball … by different schools

The 6-foot-5 JJ Sanchez, the older brother by a minute, has drawn interest from Point Loma Nazarene and Westmont. The 6-4 Alek is being looked at by schools in the PacWest Conference and other NCAA Division II schools.

So with seven games remaining in the regular season, JJ and Alek realize this is their last run together. Alek Sanchez can still remember their first time suiting up for the Aztecs. Montgomery beat Chula Vista 76-37 on Nov. 16, 2021.

“It doesn’t seem like that long ago we played our first game together,” Alek Sanchez said.

Chasing a title

For all their winning, a San Diego Section championship has eluded the Aztecs.

As freshmen, JJ and Alek Sanchez lost to Mt. Carmel 68-67 in the Division 1 semifinals. As sophomores, they lost to St. Augustine 85-53 in the Open Division title game.

Last season at UC San Diego, Carlsbad edged Montgomery 56-47 in the Open Division championship game.

Despite their core of talented seniors, Montgomery (19-2) figures to encounter many of the same challenges this season. Carlsbad, St. Augustine, San Marcos, Torrey Pines and Cathedral Catholic all stand in the Aztecs’ way.

“We have some goals, starting with winning our league,” Alek Sanchez said. “We want to make a deep run in the CIF playoffs, win the Open Division. Then see what happens in the state playoffs.

“We’d love to end our high school careers with a win, but we realize how hard that will be.”

Make it Montgomery

Why are the Sanchez twins stars at Montgomery?

Their older brother, Emilio, better known as Melo, starred at Mater Dei Catholic, had two good seasons at Hawaii Pacific and is now playing at Arkansas.

JJ Sanchez said the choice of Montgomery instead of Mater Dei was “a family decision.”

“We’re Catholic, so Mater Dei Catholic was in the mix,” he said. “Our dad (Javier) went to Mar Vista and played professionally in Mexico. But our mom (Marisol) went to Mongtomery, we live in the area and love the coaches.

“It has been a great fit. Honestly, we had no idea Devin and Xair were coming here, too.”

Devin Hamilton lives near Montgomery and chose to play for the Aztecs as a freshman. Xair Mendez decided to attend Montgomery after the Sanchez twins picked the Aztecs.

For four years, the four Aztecs have been sensational together.

A forward, JJ Sanchez is averaging 18.0 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 3.5 steals per game this season. He has scored 2,094 career points, making him one of only 22 players in San Diego Section history to crack the 2,000-point mark. The 2,000-point list also includes former NBA players TJ Leaf and Chase Budinger.

A point guard, Alex Sanchez is averaging 9.5 points, 4.6 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 4.0 steals per game this season. He has scored 991 career points.

Hamilton, a guard/forward, is averaging 17.0 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 2.8 steals this season. He has scored 1,251 career points. Another versatile player, Mendez is averaging 16.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 3.3 steals this season. He has scored 1,578 career points.

All four Mongtomery standouts were All-CIF selections last season — JJ Sanchez and Hamilton on the first team, and Alek Sanchez and Mendez on the second team.

“Our team doesn’t look the part. We don’t have a 7-footer, a 6-10 point guard. Teams don’t look at us in warmups and go ‘Wow!’,” Alek Sanchez said.

“But we play hard, and you better be ready when you play us.”

‘So many weapons’

The beauty of having four capable players is that any of them can shine during any game.JJ Sanchez scored 10 points in Montgomery’s 94-66 win over Santa Fe Christian when the teams met Nov. 30.

Hamilton added 11 points.

Alec Sanchez scored 21, hitting 8 of 10 3-pointers.

And Mendez put up a game-high 37, making 8 of 10 3-pointers. The Aztecs finished with a San Diego Section-record 23 3-point makes on 42 attempts.

“Montgomery has so many weapons,” Santa Fe Christian coach Matt Carlino said.  “We tried some different defenses against them, tried to double-and-triple-team JJ, take him out of the game. But they’re so smart.

“They didn’t force anything, and they killed us.”

Nobody was happier about Alek Sanchez’s big night than his brother.

“There are a bunch of stats-watchers who don’t know the game, don’t see what Alek does for the team,” JJ Sanchez said. “Because I score more, the stats guys think I’m better.  Alek knows all our hot spots, gets us the ball in the places we love to shoot. Plus, he plays great defense.

“I think we have a lot of the same qualities. We have a high basketball IQ. We’re good decision-makers. We play with confidence, and we can motivate our teammates.”

Said Alek Sanchez: “I love to pass the ball, but I can score if the team needs me.”

‘What are the chances?’

Montgomery coach Ed Martin knows these are special times. The Aztecs are shining on the court and taking care of business in the classroom.

The Aztecs carry a team GPA of 3.5. JJ Sanchez, who is thinking of majoring in kinesiology with an eye on staying in sports after college, carries a 4.0 GPA.

Alek Sanchez, who loves working on cars, checks in with a 4.2 GPA. He’s thinking of majoring in engineering in college, but ultimately would love to be a mechanic and work with his father.

Mendez is “an amazing point guard who plays the entire 94 feet and isn’t afraid of taking the big shot,” Alek Sanchez said.

He calls Hamilton “the best defender in San Diego.”

Then there are the Sanchez brothers, who — along with their two friends and teammates — are leaving a legacy at their high school.

“What are the chances brothers will play together at the same school and each score 1,000 points?” Martin asked.

“What are the odds four players on the same team will score 1,000 points and not be jealous of each other? This group found a home and stayed together. That doesn’t happen in today’s game. There is a loyalty to the school and to each other. They want to play this out.

“These are great kids, kids who have been approached by other schools to come play for them. But they love it here. They’ve built a legacy here.

“They’ve shown everyone that the grass isn’t always greener somewhere else.”