Border League: Best F/C Defenders

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>LAS VEGAS — The Border League has established itself as the premier fall high school/prep school basketball event on the west coast and the 2024 edition was no different. The event features many of the top high school and prep school prospects from around the country in a high level hoops showcase. We were in attendance at Coronado and Desert Pines high schools over the weekend and below are the best big defenders we saw.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1660063' first='Caleb' last='Gaskins'] | Montverde Academy (FL)</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gaskins' defensive impact is best described as versatile. The 6-foot-8 forward has the size and strength to play a physical brand of defense inside but his athleticism and ability to slide his feet on the perimeter allows him to switch on to and contain guards and execute multiple ball screen coverages. Gaskins is also a capable rim protector who deters and changes shots around the basket.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1301714' first='Cameron' last='Boozer'] | Columbus (FL)</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Boozer is one of the most fundamentally sound prospects in high school basketball and that applies to the defensive end, as well. The 6-foot-9 forward spent time guarding AJ Dybantsa on the perimeter Sunday and held his own in containing and closing out to one of the most gifted athletes that high school basketball has seen over the last two decades. Where Boozer really excels on that side of the ball is in his communication. He calls screens with directional instructions and how he wants the guard to defend it and clearly knows the strengths and weaknesses of the opponents. Boozer also has great timing and verticality when contesting and blocking shots.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2131780' first='Christian' last='Collins'] | St. John Bosco</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Collins is a high energy wing/forward who can be seen flying around all over the court on the defensive end. The 6-foot-8 wing/forward has the mobility and athleticism to guard multiple positions and his quick twitch athleticism and reaction time allow him to cover ground swiftly when his team is in scramble mode defensively. Collins can go from protecting the rim to sprinting to a closeout with fluidity.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Mouhamed Sylla | CIA Bella Vista (AZ)</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The ease in which Sylla can elevate vertically when protecting the rim is something that is rarely seen at the high school level and the guards or bigs that attempted to finish around the 6-foot-11 center found out the hard way. Sylla's presence results in countless changed, altered and blocked shots around the rim and his ability to cover ground quickly allowed him to get from a hard hedge to contesting a shot in the paint.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Xavion Staton | Sierra Vista (NV)</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Staton is one of the premier shot blockers in all of high school basketball. The long, wiry and quick twitch 6-foot-10 center uses his physical and athletic tools to time, stay vertical and block shots around the basket at a high rate. Staton is quick off the floor with his first jump which allows him to neutralize the athleticism of guards who are penetrating the lane to score and his ability to stay vertical and contest without fouling keeps him out of foul trouble and the opponent off of the free throw line.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->