Stars in their Roles: Borderland Guards

Basketball in the Borderland is back! El Paso teams are more than ten games into their pre-district schedule, while Southern New Mexico teams opened their season last week. Now it's time to talk about some prospects who do not get enough love. I am referring to the role players, underappreciated starters, bench units, or players from lower-level districts or teams that do not get enough coverage. This story will be part of a three-part series breaking down the underrated prospects at the guard, wing, and big positions. Here are some Borderland guards from El Paso, Texas to Las Cruces, New Mexico who will star in their role this season.    Every team needs a player who hustles and brings energy. Luckily, the Franklin Cougars have that in senior Camryn De Avila. Now a starter in her second year on varsity, De Avila provides solid on-ball pressure on defense and knows how to function within her team's offense. Franklin plays at a blistering pace with very few sets and a barrage of 3-point attempts. It's somewhat of an unstructured structure that commands players to play out in transition. De Avila knows how to do that by spacing the floor, making the right pass, and knocking down the occasional jump shot. She might not be the leading scorer or the team's best defender but you won't question her effort or her ability to play within the offense. She is a useful tool with a specific set of skills on a Franklin team with a variety of uniquely skilled players.     Neveah Paul would be a starting point guard at most Borderland programs, but she just so happens to play on a team with Jordan Sapien--arguably the best player in the area. With that, Pebble Hills boasts an overqualified backup who is first off the bench when needed. Paul is a speedy undersized guard who can push the space, score, and distribute in transition. Moreover, she can play off the ball and with the aforementioned Sapien if need be. Pebble Hills is one of the big three favorites to win the 1-6A district title this season and if they come out on top, it's going to be because of the great bench depth. Look no further than Neveah Paul. She would be a solid addition to any college program looking to add depth to the point guard position. She is currently uncommitted.     Daisy Urenda is an interesting prospect to evaluate. Originally a transfer from Pebble Hills, she was deemed ineligible to play varsity her junior year before stepping on the floor this season. It's been a slow process since she is one of Chapin's holdovers from the volleyball season. With that, she missed a few games to start the season and has been part of the Huskies bench unit. She provides pace and much-needed ball handling for a group that has plenty of size and toughness for the area. How Urenda's senior season plays out is a bit of an unknown given that she missed so much time. Nevertheless, her addition to the varsity squad should be an additive for the Huskies.     Eastlake has a trio of undersized guards who can interchangeably play on and off the ball. They truly boast one of the best three-guard lineups in the Borderland. With that, Amanda Aragon might not see the floor at all times this season, but when she does get on the floor you can see that the future of this program over the next few years is bright. As of now, she shows flashes as a solid on-ball defender, playmaker, and perimeter shooter. The benefit of playing behind a trio of excellent scoring guards is that Aragon can pick her spots, and be an additive to the offense, while not being overly relied on to run or contribute to the offense.     You won't find many teams in the Borderland better than the Eastwood Troopers. They are well coached, with a winning history, and they boast a lot of the top talent in the area. So much so, that they can afford to start or bring Gaby Flores off the bench depending on the situation. Flores is best defined as the interchangeable 5th or 6th starter who can play on and off the ball for the Troopers. Although the shooting efficiency and playmaking haven't completely rounded into form this season, she is a floor-raiser for Eastwood. Meaning, that when she comes into the game, at a minimum, the Troopers still function at a net positive. Not all teams can say that about their role players, which is why Eastwood is as good as it gets for the Borderland. By her senior year, she will undoubtedly be one of the better combo guards in the area.     Calling a player like Olivia Morales a role player might be a stretch since she is such an integral part of the Eastwood girls' basketball program. She is a four-year varsity player who understands how to play within her team's system as well as anyone. More importantly, she provides much-needed perimeter shooting, especially from the corner pockets. Her presence on the team allows Eastwood to play a deeper bench and rotate their guard depth, even against tougher Borderland opponents. She missed some time at the beginning of the season as she was a holdover from the cross-country team, but you can expect to see Morales round into mid-season form sooner than later. Additionally, Morales plays for one of the better AAU programs in the Borderland--EP Heart--which boasts some of the best players in the area. This is a prospect who has a ton of reps playing high-level basketball.     In three years Isabella Lee will be one of the top recruits in the Borderland. At 5-8 and still growing, she's bigger and faster than most guards in the area. Her athleticism is on full display within Franklin's uptempo style of play and she is a blur in transition. A long strider, she gets about two or three easy buckets a game just by running the floor. Speaking of defense, her foot speed and length give opposing players trouble. She has all the physical tools to become an excellent two-way player. Starting as a freshman and getting the freedom to shoot at will come with its pros and cons. In the case of Lee, the reps and experience should largely benefit her. If college coaches are smart, they should get in on this player early.

Basketball in the Borderland is back! El Paso teams are more than ten games into their pre-district schedule, while Southern New Mexico teams opened their season last week. Now it's time to talk about some prospects who do not get enough love. I am referring to the role players, underappreciated starters, bench units, or players from lower-level districts or teams that do not get enough coverage. This story will be part of a three-part series breaking down the underrated prospects at the guard, wing, and big positions. Here are some Borderland guards from El Paso, Texas to Las Cruces, New Mexico who will star in their role this season.