Border League: Best Point Guards (Pt. 1)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>LAS VEGAS — Bishop Gorman, Coronado and other Vegas-area high schools played host to one of the premier high school/prep school basketball events of the year over the weekend. The Border League brought teams from across the country to Southern Nevada for a three-day event which was loaded with top team and individual matchups. In this piece we take a closer look at the top performing point guards from the weekend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1301715' first='Cayden' last='Boozer'], 2025, Columbus (FL)</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Boozer pulls all the right strings for what should be one of the best teams in the country. The 6-foot-3 junior has elite command for the position, controls pace and tempo, makes high level reads in transition and half-court offense and is an unselfish creator who gets Columbus into their offense.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1213156' first='Curtis' last='Givens III'], 2024, Montverde Academy (FL)</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Givens is a guy who lets his passing do the talking. The 6-foot-3 LSU-commit gets rid of the ball with the understanding that he's surrounded by high level teammates and his hit-ahead passes sparks transition offense for Montverde. Gives has plenty of his own scoring capabilities as a driver and finisher or catch-and-shooter from three-point range. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1385291' first='Jeremiah' last='Fears'], 2025, AZ Compass Prep</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fears balanced scoring and distributing very well at Border League. The 6-foot-3 combo guard showed flashes of his creativity off the bounce and ability to knock down deep jump shots or get a paint touch and finish with a crafty floater or finish around the rim. At the same time, Fears is a high IQ player who makes the right reads and passes more often than not.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1532662' first='JJ' last='Mandaquit'], 2025, Salt Lake Academy (UT)</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The first word that comes to mind when watching Mandaquit play is "polished." The 6-foot-2 point guard has a combination of your modern point guard with an aggressive scoring mentality and a throwback "true" point guard with his ability to control tempo and get teammates the ball where they can be successful. Mandaquit showed great feel in ball-screen action and created out of the mid-post as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1391447' first='Jordan' last='Roberts'], 2024, Dixie (UT)</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Roberts might not have the national name like others in this series of coverage but the 6-foot senior was one of the most poised and dialed in point guards we saw at Border League. Roberts runs the Dixie offense like a well-oiled machine and understands how to take the pulse of his team and execute what's needed to win a basketball game. Roberts' can also turn up his scoring punch when needed.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1502811' first='Justin' last='Pippen'], 2024, Sierra Canyon</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Pippen should be among the biggest stock-raisers in the country if any of the national media are paying attention to his progress. The 6-foot-3 senior has emerged as one of the best point guards in California because of his combination of speed and quickness, vision in open and half-court offense, paint touch and finishing ability and his consistent three-point shot off the catch and off the bounce.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Martin Somerville, 2024, Southern California Academy</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Somerville is a crafty left-handed guard with great change of speed and direction in open court and half-court settings. The 6-foot-3 senior has a smooth three-point shot off the bounce and off the catch, has a high IQ when using ball-screens and knows how to create space and advantages over defenders with his speed changes and footwork.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->