Borders a Cub
- Updated: July 27, 2017
Two-sport standout gives Alexandria a hard-throwing left-handed pitcher and another big basketball body after transferring from Saks
Jalen Borders (24) will give Alexandria a boost in basketball and baseball after transferring from Saks. (Photos by B.J. Franklin/GungHo Photos)
By Al Muskewitz
East Alabama Sports Today
Two sports at Alexandria will be getting a big boost this year as Jalen Borders has enrolled in school, transferring from Saks in advance of his family opening a new home later this fall.
Borders will be a junior when school starts Aug. 7. His arrival will bring a hard-throwing left-hander to Valley Cubs baseball coach Andy Shaw’s rotation and his 6-foot-5 frame will give basketball coach Jason Johnson another big body at his disposal.
“They’ve been bugging me for three years to go over there,” Borders told EA Sports Today Thursday night. “I’m excited, but I’m going to miss Saks; I had a lot of good friends there, but I know a lot of people at Alexandria, too.”
Borders is still developing his game in both sports. He is coming off a big summer in which he earned all-tournament honors in two Perfect Game baseball tournaments and hit 85 on the radar gun. His post presence on the basketball floor will go nicely with a roster that already boasts a pair of 6-7 starters — senior Dalton Dodd and freshman Landon Williams.
“We will have the most height we have had in a long time,” Johnson said. “Hopefully we can benefit from it.”
Borders will be able to practice with his new teams, but won’t be eligible to play until the family moves into their new home in the Barrington Farms development sometime in October.
“Their basketball team is really good; I think I can help a little bit, maybe make a run for state,” Borders said. “It’s going to be hard to guard us with Dodd being more of a point forward and two guys in the post who can do some work.
“Baseball is going to have a lot of young guys, but I think we’ll do pretty good too. I haven’t talked with coach Johnson yet. I’m pretty sure coach Shaw is pretty excited about me coming. I threw a bullpen with him Tuesday and I think he liked it.”
Indeed.
“You can never get enough arms, especially 6-foot-plus left-handers,” Shaw said. “He will fit in well with our hard-working kids.”
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