Zee Huerta Signs with NM Highlands Cowboys

By Don Eskins

On Thursday, April 23, former Caveman point guard Zee Huerta signed a letter of intent to play collegiate basketball for the New Mexico Highlands Cowboys during the 2026-27 school year.

Highlands, located in Las Vegas, is an NCAA Division II school that competes in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Association. During 2025-26, the Cowboys posted a season record of 13-19 and were 11-9 in conference play.

A pillar in this year’s Cavemen drive to get to the state playoffs, Huerta averaged 11.6 points per game and 3.1 assists. He made good on 50.5 percent of his two-point attempts and hit 68.5 percent of his free throws.

On Becoming a Cowboy

Huerta, a two-time All-District 4/5A player and 2025-26 New Mexico All-Star, said that although he had communicated with a small college in California about playing there, Highlands looked like a much better fit for him.

“While I was impressed with the basketball program at Highlands, I was equally impressed with the University and community,” he said. “The school is beautiful; the town and community, much like Carlsbad, is small and feels very comfortable. Also, it’s relatively close to home, which had a lot to do with my decision to attend college there.”

Although he just recently signed to play for the Cowboys, his connection with the program has been ongoing for the past several months.

“I attended a prospect camp there in August. The coaches liked my performance and invited me back for an official visit in November,” he said. “While there, I attended a Cowboy football game and got to tour the Highlands campus and their athletic facility.

“However, more than their facilities, I was most interested in the culture at Highlands. It’s very good,” continued Huerta. “Head coach Zach Settembre has a great relationship with his players and treats them well. For the most part, that’s what sold me on the Cowboy program.”

Huerta was invited back to Highlands for an unofficial visit in December. This time, along with a few other recruits, he got to watch the Cowboy basketball team take on the Western New Mexico University Mustangs. More importantly, though, he got to visit with the coaches and players once again.

“Since my last visit there, we’ve kept in close touch with one another,” he said. “So, when coach Settembre told me they’d like me to become a part of their program and offered me a scholarship, I was ready to sign.”

As a Cowboy, Huerta hopes to earn a starting position at the one or two guard spots. However, said the former Caveman, that’s more than likely not going to happen for him during 2026-27.

“Due to the portal system, it looks like I’ll spend my first year as a redshirt freshman. But I’m good with that, “ he said. “Coach Settembre told me that during my second year, I should have a lot of opportunities to earn a spot on the floor.

“That’s all I really want—an opportunity,” he said. “I’m used to challenges, and I’m used to working hard, so earning a spot on the floor is going to be up to me. I’m ready for that.”

A Very Special Thank You

As Carlsbad High’s point guard, Huerta said Cavemen head coach John Zumbrun has prepared him well to play basketball at the next level.

“Coach Zumbrun taught me a great deal about the ins and outs of being a point guard. While I obviously work hard to be the best I can be, Coach Zumbrun has helped me to get where I am today,” he said. “He’s also taught me a lot about the overall game of basketball. As I move on to compete collegiately, I really owe him a lot.”

Huerta, who plans to major in business at Highlands, is the son of Samuel and Mariah Huerta.