Mountain Pointe High School's gifted 5-foot-7 rising junior point guard Justin Kimbrough has long been regarded as one of the premier young basketball prospects in the state of Arizona. Long before he ever stepped onto the high school stage, Kimbrough was widely considered one of the top middle school prospects to come out of Arizona in recent years. Since arriving at Mountain Pointe High School, he has continued to validate that reputation and has developed into one of the elite guards in Arizona’s loaded 2028 recruiting class. Now entering his junior season, Kimbrough appears poised for a breakout year that could elevate both his national recruiting profile and Mountain Pointe High School into championship contention.
The 5-foot-7 rising junior pint guard led Mountain Pointe to a 21-8 overall record last season, while averaging 11.2 points, 4.3 assists, 3.1 rebounds and 2.2 steals per game as a sophomore. While those numbers were impressive, they only hint at what Kimbrough is capable of accomplishing this season. I expect Kimbrough to become one of Arizona’s biggest breakout stars during the 2026-27 season.
Mountain Pointe enters next season as one of the favorites to capture the 5A State Championship, while also possessing the talent to compete for an Open Division State Title. Much of those expectations begin with the outstanding play and leadership of Kimbrough. Already one of the state’s most heavily recruited young guards, Kimbrough has received loads of college attention, including an early offer from Ole Miss. I fully expect his recruitment to accelerate over the next year, as more high-major programs continue to evaluate him.
Kimbrough significantly raised his recruiting stock this spring, while competing for the nationally recognized Oakland Soldiers (CA), one of the country’s premier Adidas-sponsored grassroots basketball programs. He also enjoyed an outstanding performance during the recent Section 7 Tournament, where he was among the event’s top overall performers against elite national competition.
Despite standing just 5-foot-7, Kimbrough consistently proves that size is not a limitation. He is an explosive, shifty point guard blessed with outstanding change-of-direction ability that makes him extremely difficult to defend one-on-one. His quick first step allows him to create separation almost at will, while his advanced ball-handling skills enable him to get anywhere he wants on the floor. Kimbrough is an excellent perimeter shooter with deep range who forces defenders to extend well beyond the three-point line. Once he attacks the basket, he is an outstanding finisher in traffic and possesses excellent body control around the rim. Just as importantly, he makes everyone around him better. His vision, unselfishness, and ability to create quality scoring opportunities for teammates make him an outstanding floor general.
Defensively, Kimbrough is equally impressive. His quick hands, active feet, anticipation, and relentless effort make him one of the better two-way guards in Arizona’s 2028 class. He consistently pressures opposing ball handlers, while creating turnovers that often lead to easy transition baskets. Simply put, Kimbrough is a difference-maker every time he steps on the floor.
Mountain Pointe’s success this season will not rest solely on Kimbrough’s shoulders. He will once again form one of Arizona’s elite young backcourts alongside fellow 2028 standout Jayvein Moody, another highly regarded guard prospect. Together, Kimbrough and Moody give Mountain Pointe one of the state’s most dynamic backcourt combinations. The duo will also team with 6-foot-9 rising junior Marcus Isaac, one of Arizona’s top young post prospects, to form one of the premier young trios in the state of Arizona. With Kimbrough directing the offense, Moody providing another explosive scoring option and Isaac controlling the paint, Mountain Pointe has the talent to compete with any team in Arizona.
Leading the program is hard-working and focused Head Coach Kaimarr Price, a former college basketball player who has done an outstanding job building the Mountain Pointe basketball program into one of the state’s rising powers. Price has established a culture centered around discipline, toughness, and player development, and that foundation now appears ready to produce one of the school’s finest seasons.
Everything seems to be falling into place for Mountain Pointe. The talent is there. The chemistry has been established. The experience has been gained. Now comes the opportunity. I believe this will be Mountain Pointe’s season to establish itself among Arizona’s elite basketball programs, and make a serious run at both the 5A State Championship and the Open Division title. Justin Kimbrough will be the catalyst behind that success.
As his game continues to mature and his recruitment accelerates, expect many more Division-I programs to enter the picture. His combination of elite quickness, an advanced skillset, leadership and relentless competitiveness, makes him one of the premier point guards in the Western United States. Justin Kimbrough is unquestionably one of Arizona’s top prospects in the 2028 class, and I fully expect his college recruitment to reach another level over the next year. If his summer performances are any indication of what’s to come, college coaches across the country will be making frequent trips to Mountain Pointe High School this season to watch one of Arizona’s brightest young stars continue his rise.
