The invite-only event, celebrating its sixth season, will broadcast over 40 games on ESPN and NBA TV over the three-day weekend. In 2024, the competition drew more than 200 colleges, 400 media members and 30 NBA scouts.

It’s another inroad into the national basketball picture for LCA, which completed its first season competing as an independent UHSAA member in 2024-25. No longer eligible for the state tournament in Utah, LCA expanded its horizons with several interstate tournaments this past winter.

The Eagles, winning seven of their final 10 games to finish 19-11 overall, declared four D-I scholarship players this spring, including All-Area forward and Layton native Tyrin Jones, who is signed with UNLV. Second-year LCA head coach Casey Stanley said an event such as the Border League is another step toward raising his program’s profile as a nationwide competitor.

“Being invited to a high-profile event like the Border League is a tremendous platform for our basketball program at Layton Christian Academy,” Stanley said. “Playing in front of college coaches, NBA scouts, media members, and national television provides the kind of exposure our student-athletes need to be recruited to colleges. We’re proud of the four Division I scholarships our students signed last season and hope to continue building on that success.”

Last year’s Border League slate included a marquee matchup between AJ Dybantsa (Utah Prep), ESPN’s No. 1 prospect in the Class of 2025 and BYU’s highest-ranked recruiting victory, and Duke commit Cameron Boozer (Los Explorers). Dybantsa produced 28 points and four rebounds in a 69-68 win for Utah Prep.

The official schedule and list of venues are not yet finalized, but historically, games have been played at Las Vegas area high school and junior high school gymnasiums. Three-day passes and daily tickets are available Aug. 20 at www.theborderleague.com.

Connect with sports reporter Conner Becker via email at cbecker@standard.net and X @ctbecker.