Border League: X-Factor Guards

<!-- 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 prospects who might not be talked about but play key roles for their teams.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Chris Komin | St. John Bosco</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Komin is one of the biggest unsung prospects in California and the Point Loma Nazarene-commit showed why over the weekend. The 6-foot-3 shooting guard keeps the game simple by knocking down catch and shoot three's when they come his way, creating mid-range jumpers off the bounce and handling the ball as a secondary playmaker when needed. Komin came up clutch Sunday with a game-winning bank shot to give the Braves a one-point win over AZ Compass.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2021873' first='Jacob' last='Lanier'] | AZ Compass</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lanier is the ultimate role guy for Compass and his ability to impact both ends of the floor without needing to get a high volume of touches is an important piece of a star-laden team. Offensively, Lanier hits the corner three-ball at a consistent rate, can attack closeouts for straight-line drive finishes and fills lanes in transition for slashing fast break buckets. Defensively, Lanier uses his length to guard 1 through 4 on the perimeter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Jaxon Richardson | Columbus (FL)</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>When it comes to Columbus, most of the talk surrounds the Boozer twins, but Richardson is beginning to carve out an important role for the defending Florida state champions. The 6-foot-5 wing was one of the hardest-playing and most explosive athletes in the gym over the weekend and his combination of effort and energy allowed him to impact the defensive end by rebounding, getting in passing lanes and diving on the floor for loose balls. Offensively, Richardson does a lot of the dirty work on the offensive boards to gain second chance opportunities for his team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='2435372' first='Josiah' last='Nance'] | Sherman Oaks Notre Dame</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nance has shown flashes of his talent and high ceiling since entering high school at Heritage Christian last season but Sunday he had a 10 minute stretch where he took over in a win over Overtime Elite. Nance was driving and scoring around the rim, knocking down mid-range jumpers and defending at a high level to help Notre Dame secure an upset win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">[player_tooltip player_id='1464982' first='Miles' last='Sadler'] | CIA Bella Vista (AZ)</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There are players on CIA Bella Vista who are bigger, more explosive athletically and create more highlight-reel type plays than Sadler but the 6-foot guard makes everything go for that team. Sadler operates like a puppet master in the way he controls the game as the primary playmaker for Bella Vista and his ability to use the ball screen to leverage advantages offensively forces defenses into bad positions. Sadler has a high basketball IQ, great court vision and the ability to distribute or score when needed.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Taylen Kinney | Overtime Elite (GA)</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It was a rough weekend for the All-Star roster that Overtime Elite brought to Vegas but Kinney stood out as a player who was trying to play the right way on both ends of the floor. He keeps the game simple offensively with the ability to hit catch and shoot threes, attack closeouts for mid-range jumpers or at-rim finishes and willingness to make the extra pass, move the ball and not force bad shots.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->