Derrion Reid, the prized 5-star basketball prospect who spent his first three years of high school ball at Grovetown, is expected to transfer to Prolific Prep, a prominent prep school program in Northern California, according to a tweet that published on Monday afternoon.
Grovetown boys basketball coach Darren Douglas confirmed the news through text message Monday afternoon.
“Yes, he’s out,” Douglas said. “I’m not taking it personal. That’s what I’m here for — to help kids reach these kind of heights. And if someone is going to give you six figures to play high school ball, how can I be mad at that?”
The 6-foot-7, 200-pound Reid helped the Warriors win their first state championship in school history during the 2021-22 season.
Reid also starred during his second appearance at the annual Peach Jam in July, which helped catapult his already quickly rising stock. And although Grovetown boys basketball coach Darren Douglas was looking forward to seeing him finish his high school career at the school, Douglas took the news of his departing star player in stride.
He has a litany of Power Five basketball offers that includes Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Indiana, Tennessee, Florida, Florida State and South Carolina, just to name a few.
Prolific Prep’s current roster carries several other standouts that played with Reid on the Nike EYBL circuit the past two summers. The school began in 2014, and has produced recent NBA draftees such as Josh Jackson (No. 4 overall pick in 2017), Gary Trend, Jr. (second round pick in 2018) and Jalen Green (No. 2 overall pick in 2021). It has become one of the most prestigious high school programs in the nation.
Reid’s resume thus far suggests that he’ll fit right in.
He helped last year’s Grovetown squad win another region championship along with another deep run into the state tournament. During the Peach Jam, Douglas had said that he expected Reid to take on a much more dominant role on a Grovetown roster that would be built around him.
As for Grovetown, Reid’s transfer now gives Douglas an opportunity to see who will step up once the season starts in November.
“The sun always comes up the next day, “Douglas said. “We have a program at Grovetown. We will be fine. Now it’ll just be next man up. It’ll just be the next guy’s turn. We adapt and roll with it. Our environment turns guys into stars, so it’s just the next person’s turn.”
