Photo essay: Future lottery picks hit Las Vegas for Border League high school basketball showcase

by Adnan Alam
  • Slug: Sports-Border League Tournament Photo Essay, 600 words.
  • 9 photos available.

By Griffin Greenberg
Cronkite News

LAS VEGAS – One of the most anticipated high school basketball seasons in a long time kicked off in a big way recently, when many of the top players in the game headed to Nevada for the Border League preseason competition.

The event featured top teams from around the country and included 12 games aired on ESPN platforms. Two of the main divisions, the Top Flight Invite and Super 16, were played at Bishop Gorman High School, with most teams taking substitute team names since it was the preseason event and they wanted to avoid any possible repercussions from their home conferences.

Cooper Flagg, AJ Dybantsa and Cameron Boozer are three of the elite prospects that highlighted the competition. Dybantsa is ranked as the nation’s top 2025 recruit and Boozer, son of former NBA All-Star Carlos Boozer, is right behind him at the No. 2 spot. Flagg is the No. 1 ranked player in the 2024 class and is choosing between Duke and Connecticut to play college ball.

Athletes from Arizona also competed in the event as well as players who have been recruited by Arizona universities. All the rankings mentioned are based on selections from the 2024 ESPN 100, 2025 ESPN 60 and 2026 ESPN 25.

The first round of the event kicked off with No. 1 recruit Flagg of the Florida Eagles – he plays for Florida’s Montverde Academy during the high school season – matching up against No. 20 recruit Bryson Tucker of Bishop O’Connell. Flagg had a huge weekend with his team, averaging 19 points, 8.7 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 2.7 blocks. He also shot 76%.

Prolific Prep star forward Dybantsa averaged 16 points and 1.3 blocks to lead his team to a 2-1 record at the event. Prolific Prep No. 1 class of 2026 recruit Tyran Stokes is widely regarded as one of the most exciting and explosive players high school basketball will see this season.

Explorers star forward Boozer, who plays for Miami’s Columbus High School during the school season, averaged an event-leading 23.7 points and 13.3 rebounds.

Bryce James, the youngest son of NBA star LeBron James, made his debut with the Blue Knights. Bryce plays with Notre Dame Sherman Oaks (California) during the high school season. AZ Compass Prep’s Jeremiah Fears, the younger brother of Michigan State freshman point guard Jeremy Fears and the nation’s No. 21 ranked 2025 recruit, displayed his court vision and IQ, leading Top Flight Invite in steals and showing off his elite playmaking skills.

This year’s event featured a number of college commitment announcements, including LABC four-star guard Trent Perry, who committed to USC and attends Harvard-Westlake School in California during the high school season. Perry and fellow teammate Christian Horry, son of NBA champion Robert Horry, also showcased their skills. Perry averaged 20.3 points and 6.3 assists over the weekend.

High-flying forward and the No. 11 2024 recruit in the nation, Asa Newell, did damage at the rim over the weekend.

Additionally, four-star guard Jase Richardson, the son of two-time NBA slam dunk champion Jason Richardson, had a big showing, showing flashes of his father’s athleticism before his commitment announcement to Michigan State.

Class of 2026 five-star guard Brandon McCoy of The Tribe, who attends California’s St. John Bosco during the high school season, is getting set for a big sophomore season with his powerful squad.

Overtime Elite No. 16 recruit Karter Knox made his OTE debut alongside other star teammates before heading back to Georgia for OTE’s league. Meanwhile, Overtime Elite teammate and four-star forward Jahki Howard holds offers from Arizona State, USC, Memphis, Connecticut and more high major programs.

University of Arizona commit and AZ Compass four-star Jamari Phillips is one player at the event who committed to college early, making his decision in December.

The Florida Eagles ended up finishing 3-0 on the weekend and taking home the championship with a collection of five-star recruits.

For more stories from Cronkite News, visit cronkitenews.azpbs.org.

 

Michigan State commit and Explorers senior guard Jase Richardson celebrates after dunking against Air Nado in the first round. (Photo by Griffin Greenberg/Cronkite News)
LABC’s Christian Horry, left, and Trent Perry celebrate after Perry scores and gets fouled against Prolific Prep. (Photo by Griffin Greenberg/Cronkite News)
AZ Compass junior guard Jeremiah Fears dribbles the ball up the court against Prolific Prep at the Top Flight Invite at Border League. (Photo by Griffin Greenberg/Cronkite News)
Blue Knights forward Bryce James, son of LeBron James, looks at his bench in a Super 16 Border League matchup against Storm Hoopers at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas. (Photo by Griffin Greenberg/Cronkite News)
LABC guard Trent Perry, who attends Harvard-Westlake School, poses with his team after he announces he will attend USC. (Photo by Griffin Greenberg/Cronkite News)
The nation’s top high school recruit, Cooper Flagg of the Florida Eagles, rises up for a dunk in the first round against Bishop O’Connell. (Photo by Griffin Greenberg/Cronkite News)
The Tribe’s Brandon McCoy, the No. 2 recruit in the 2026 class, looks on as his team shoots a free throw in a Super 16 Border League matchup against Dream City Christian School. (Photo by Griffin Greenberg/Cronkite News)
Five-star Florida Eagles forward Asa Newell dunks over AZ Compass defenders in the second round at the Top Flight Invite at Border League. (Photo by Griffin Greenberg/Cronkite News)
Florida Eagles starters and staff celebrate late in a dominant second round win over AZ Compass. Among those celebrating were, from left to right,No. 25 Derik Queen, No. 14 Asa Newell, No. 32 Cooper Flagg and No. 30 Liam McNeeley. (Photo by Griffin Greenberg/Cronkite News)