Few basketball scouting experiences compare to tournaments like The Border League in Las Vegas, Nevada, where young players with immense potential acclimate to preseason hoops. High school stars, even those who eventually become great NBA players, fluctuate in impact at this level as they mature physically, improve technically, and gain more experience.
Let’s break down five high upside prospects I watched at The Border League tournament. Some of these players played better than others in Las Vegas, but all of them flashed the traits that make them coveted college and eventual NBA prospects.
Tyran Stokes│2026│Forward│6’7│Notre Dame
The consensus top prospect in the 2026 high school class produced like a star, averaging 22 points, 10 rebounds and 3 assists (0.9 assist-to-turnover) on 51.2% true shooting in two games against Dynamic Prep and Blair Academy. Stokes, who is also playing wide receiver for Notre Dame’s football team this season, weaponized his nuclear athleticism and size to dominate on drives. He lived at the foul line as he tends to do, drawing 25 free throws in two games.
He struggled to score when defenses didn’t foul him, shooting 10-32 (35.9% effective field goal) from the floor in those two games. Despite elite explosiveness and strength with a more refined handle and passing vision, Stokes resorts to difficult jumpers too often, bogging down the offense with sub-optimal decision.
His defensive play was similarly mixed — Stokes logged an absurd 12 steals and 3 blocks across two games, dominating as a rim protector and racking up deflections with active hands. But Stokes gave away as many points as a transition and early offense defender, letting offensive players run right by him without resistance. As always, Stokes flashed the traits of a future number one overall NBA Draft pick with plenty of space to grow into that player.
Nasir Anderson│2027│Point Guard│6’4│Prolific Prep
Anderson’s blend of size, explosiveness, smooth stop-start and passing feel are star indicators. He athletically overmatched all of his opponents, blowing by or jumping around them, and flashes tight window passing vision on the move. His offensive impact isn’t consistent yet, which should be expected for teenage lead guards.
nasir anderson (2027 PG) has a rare blend of size at 6’4, explosiveness and change of speed/direction, he’s a wild athlete and the creation flashes are high, high level pic.twitter.com/gNKREjmUd1
— ben pfeifer (@bjpf_) October 10, 2025
While Anderson has the burst and shift to create advantages at will, he struggles to process defenses on the move. He’s a risk-taking player which contributes to turnovers, but also logged him 10 assists against Mega Basket. Anderson’s wonky footwork and decision making issues pop up at the rim, where he’s still learning how to unleash his aerial prowess.
Despite the aforementioned improvement areas and his lack of outside shooting, Anderson is a dominant two-way player at this level. The junior point guard will have plenty of time to iron out his weaknesses and evolve into a star creator prospect who pressures the rim, creates shots for other and scores with touch.
Malachi Jordan│2027│Wing│6’6│Dream City
Jordan was one of the more diverse and productive scorers I watched at The Border League. The junior wing spaced the floor and made difficult threes and countered his shooting with drives to access touch shots. At 6’6, defenders struggled to bother his jumpers, especially when Jordan creates separation from handoffs.
His handle isn’t quite initiator level, but Jordan flashed enough ball control and confidence in his handle deep into the paint to access touch shots. Defenders easily bump the 16-year-old wing off of his spot, but his propensity to play from two feet and height facilitate his touch scoring (and bodes well for his future after strength development).
2027 wing malachi jordan shot well from outside and converted on a bunch of impressive touch shots last weekend, none moreso than this beautiful skyhook
smooth, versatile scorer att 6’6 pic.twitter.com/TaLOc0PYw0
— ben pfeifer (@bjpf_) October 8, 2025
He’s an inconsistent defender and decision maker but Jordan flashed explosive defensive playmaking and a few impressive passes. As he matures physically and refines his process with the ball, Jordan could develop into a dangerous two-way scoring wing.
Brandon McCoy│2026│Wing│6’5│Sierra Canyon
After an incomplete AAU summer, McCoy was rusty offensively at The Border League, especially in Sierra Canyon’s game against AZ Compass. His dynamic athleticism still popped in the open floor but McCoy struggled to dribble and make shots from all areas of the floor throughout the game. His 3-pointer fell in other games, but he functioned like a play-finisher on offense for much of the weekend.
To his credit, McCoy was phenomenal in that role, weaponizing his athleticism and size to attack the glass relentlessly. He consistently snared offensive rebounds and earned his team second chance points, and McCoy will have more favorable whistles than he had in Las Vegas in the future.
McCoy’s defense stood out as usual, disrupting offenses as a point-of-attack defender, off-ball roamer and weak-side rim protector. Even without the offensive impact he’s capable off, McCoy still found other ways to impact winning and play off-ball next to other star offensive teammates like Maximo Adams. The on-ball creation determines his ceiling, but athleticism, motor and defensive chops like McCoy’s can take him far.
Christian Collins│2026│Forward│6’8│St. John Bosco
Collins dominated the defensive end throughout the weekend, starring as an off-ball roamer. With size, length and exceptional movement skills, Collins’s stunts and recovers are tough to navigate and consistently disrupted passes and drives. He’ll sometimes jump when he shouldn’t or mis-aim a block attempt, but athleticism and sharp instincts are enough to change games by himself.
He was less consistently impactful on the offensive end, struggling to create efficient offense on the ball. Collins doesn’t yet boast the dribbling or outside shooting to unlock his athletic gifts, resulting in tough mid-range jumpers and drives into walls of defenders. He’s a willing 3-point shooter, a key improvement for forcing closeouts.
Despite his turnover frequency, Collins has some passing vision and converts some quick skip passes and laydowns as an off-ball playmaker. Handling and footwork development will unlock Collins as a slasher, which will be a key component of his offensive ceiling. Even with some warts, he’s ready to contribute his energy and range on defense.
All Stats from Synergy SportsÂ
