Though there’s no transfer portal in high school basketball, but that doesn’t stop athletes from frequently testing the waters to see where they can find a better fit for their basketball goals.
Such is the case with some of the transfer moves made in the CSRA during the basketball offseason.
Of course, the entire area knows about 5-star prospect Derrion Reid and his move from Grovetown to Prolific Prep in California. The 6-foot-7 senior was originally slated to make a college decision a couple of weekends ago, along with Elijah Crawford who chose Stanford. But postponed it for undisclosed family reasons, according to several social media posts.
Then former Augusta Christian star DJ Shine, who led his team to back-to-back state South Carolina Independent School Association (SCISA) championships, transferred away to Brewton Academy in New Hampshire. Shine committed to Murray State this past Sunday.
But even with that group of local star power gone, a plethora of Augusta-area, CSRA talent remains to be discussed as they moved around to new teams before the start of the 2023-24 season which is now just a couple of weeks away.
Here are some of the more impactful area transfers we’ve discovered during the offseason. If you know of more, please pass them along.
BOYS BASKETBALL TRANSFERS
6-foot-2 senior Lavonta Ivery
Where he’s from: Two years ago it looked like Ivery and then-fellow Thomson backcourt mate Jahkiaus Jones were destined to help give legendary Bulldogs coach Michael Thomas his long sought-after first state championship. Ivery and Jones combined to make one of the best backcourts in the state, which helped Thomson to a region championship and Class AAA Final Four finish for the 2021-22 season. Last year, Ivery averaged 16 points, three assists and three rebounds a game for a Thomson squad that finished 16-9 overall and second in Region 4-AA, but lost to Windsor Forest in the first round of the state playoffs.
Where he’s headed: Over the summer, we initially reported Ivery was transferring to Augusta Christian. He worked out with the Lions during the offseason along with his AAU play. But less than two weeks before the season opener, Ivery’s on the Westside Patriots’ roster. Ironically, Westside’s Nov. 18 season opener is against Augusta Christian, and the Patriots also share the same region with Ivery’s former team, Thomson.
How he can help: Once again, Ivery’s ample skill as a combo guard should make him part of one of the most formidable backcourts in the state. That’s because he’s teaming up with senior point guard Demarco Middleton. The 6-foot-3 floor general averaged 10.1 points and 6.5 assists per game last year as he helped Westside repeat as Class AA state champs. Ivery’s scoring help will be a welcome addition to coach Jerry Hunter’s team as he’ll have the arduous task of replacing the offensive output of now-college freshmen Khalon Hudson, Jalex Ewing and AuMauri Tillman. That trio combined for 61% of Westside’s offensive output last year.
6-foot-9 Junior Da’Kylan Hill
Where he’s from: Hill comes from Laney where he helped the Wildcats to a 13-14 campaign in the 2022-23 season which saw them just missing the Class AA state playoffs. Though Laney struggled a bit, Hill was a bright spot, winning Second Team All-Region honors.
Where he’s headed: Initially it looked like Evans, but he’s landed a roster spot with a Lakeside-Evans bunch that’s coming off a solid 19-11 campaign last year, and a 7-5 finish in Region 3-AAAAAA that was good enough for third place. Lakeside advanced to the second round of the Class AAAAAA state playoffs last year, falling 62-57 to St. Pius X.
How he can help: In a word, size. It’s the thing the Panthers’ roster lacked the most last year. And at 6-foot-9, Hill will be the tallest player on the team by far. It’s not just empty size, though. GHSA basketball aficionado Kyle Sandy calls Hill a “springy shot blocker” who “gets a lot of dunks.” That dimension alone changes things for the way Lakeside can attack opponents this season.
5-foot-7 Junior Ty Jones:
Where he’s from: The diminutive guard routinely played bigger than his listed size in helping the Greenbrier Wolfpack to a 16-12 overall record last season and a 9-1 finish which was good enough for tops in the regular season Region 1-AAAAA standings.
Where he’s headed: Like DaKylan Hill, Jones is on his way to Lakeside, and he’s taking his 8.6 points, three assists and 1.4 steals stat line from last season with him.
How he can help: Jones should provide immediate floor general help for the Panthers who will be without last year’s point guard and team captain Elijah Gilbert who has graduated. Jones scored 8.6 points per contest last season to go along with three assists and 1.5 steals per game. The pace of his play should help Lakeside in transition, and despite his size, Jones has proven to be a solid defender. He’ll be part of a young squad that has just three seniors on its roster. He should be the most experienced point guard on the team.
GIRLS BASKETBALL TRANSFERS
As far as the girls game goes, we know of only one player who’s transferring out of the area, and that is former Grovetown standout Miyah Holmes. The 6-foot junior was the Warriors’ second leading scorer (9.3 ppg) behind fellow junior Asunti Porter (16.3 ppg) whom we’ll talk about in a minute.
Holmes is headed to Carrollton which is just outside of Metro Atlanta where she’ll try to help the Lady Trojans improve on a 16-13 finish and Sweet 16 finish in last year’s Class AAAAAAA state tournament.
Now, on to the intra-area transfers.
5-foot-7 Junior Asunti Porter
Where she’s from: As earlier stated, Porter joins former teammate Holmes in walking away from Grovetown after last season. Porter led the Lady Warriors (14-14, 7-5 in Region 2-AAAAAA) in scoring and helped them to the Class AAAAAA state tournament, although they lost in the first round via a 55-38 setback to Tift County.
Where she’s headed: Unlike Holmes, Porter is sticking around the Augusta area as she’s made Lakeside her new home.
How she can help: Porter’s scoring threat will be a welcomed addition to a Panthers’ team that averaged just 38.7 points per game, third fewest in the region. She was also one of the best defenders in the CSRA, averaging two steals per game. The Grovetown offense went through Porter, and it may very well be a similar story for Porter with her old/new squad. We say “old/new” because Porter is returning to Lakeside after her lone year at Grovetown. She was a freshman on the 2021-22 Lady Panthers’ state tournament squad.
5-foot Senior Kennedy Armistead
Where she’s from: Armistead comes over from Westside where she helped pace the Patriots offensively, scoring 12 points per contest, along with then-senior Taylor Bodie who led Westside with 13.3 points per contest.
Where she’s headed: She joins defending SCHSL Class AAAA state champion North Augusta as the Lady Yellow Jackets have had to say goodbye to four seniors, including P’eris Smith, now a freshman at Campbell University in Buies Creek, North Carolina.
How she can help: Armistead will join forces at North Augusta with talented sophomore Celena Grant who, as a 5-foot-9 freshman last year, poured in 13 points per contest while snagging nine boards and two steals a game. Armistead’s addition will provide a solid 1-2 punch of scoring with Grant, but could also give the Yellow Jackets a legit “big three” when you add 5-foot-9 sophomore point guard Kenedi Wright into the mix. Armistead will also provide some much needed senior leadership to what looks to be a fairly young North Augusta bunch this season.
5-foot-7 Junior Brayla Harris
Where she’s from: Harris comes from a loaded Cross Creek program where her 14.2 points were good enough for third on the team’s scoring leaderboard. She joined all-everything point guard Michaela Bogans (18.7 ppg) and Tahjae Hawes (15.8 ppg, 9 rpg) to power the Lady Razorbacks to a Region 4-AAA championship and an Elite Eight appearance in the Class AAA state tournament.
Where she’s headed: Harris is on her way to Butler where she’s looking to, perhaps, help the Lady Bulldogs provide an encore performance to last season’s second place finish in the Region 4-AA standings, and Elite Eight appearance in the Class AA state tournament.
How she can help: Instead of being a third scoring option at Cross Creek, Harris will likely work to fill the offensive void left behind when Markera Tarver and her 15.2 points per contest graduated after last season. Butler’s second best scoring option behind Tarver last year was then-freshman Paris Floyd who averaged 9.2 points and four steals each time she stepped on the court. Harris may also be the glue that helps connect some of the other newer pieces to Butler’s roster together.
5-foot-11 Junior Rania Curry
Where she’s from: Curry comes to Butler this season from perennial state champion contender Carver-Columbus where she contributed to a Lady Tigers bunch that won the Region 1-AAA title and advanced to the Elite Eight round of the Class AAA state tournament.
Where she’s headed: We told you that the aforementioned Brayla Harris would be a key cog in helping knit together a new-look Butler roster. Well, Curry’s addition to the Bulldogs is another piece of that puzzle.
How she can help: Her height and size will bolster Butler’s front court considerably. And, as a junior now Curry will have an opportunity to see her game blossom and carve out an even greater reputation as an impact player on a Butler squad that’s looking for more impact players.
5-foot-10 Senior Karen Nimo
Where she’s from: A.R. Johnson.
Where she’s headed: The 5-foot-10 senior will be the third known transfer into Butler’s girls basketball program this offseason. But if you’re looking for some of the best examples of what she brings to the court, find her work on the AAU circuit.
How she can help: Nimo has the potential to be a complete package type of player. She’s athletic and can run the floor, has the height and size to defend down low and grab rebounds, but also has ball skills and a penchant for scoring that puts you in the mind of a combo guard. One of her best moments during the summer AAU circuit season came during a Live Period at the Concord (NC) Carolina Jam fest. In a three-game stretch there, Nimo averaged 20 points, 11 rebounds, 4 blocked shots, 3 assists and 2 steals per game. Her versatility can help Butler become a better transition team, both offensively and defensively.
5-foot-7 Junior Jaliyah Terry
Where she’s from: After a strong freshman season at Hephzibah, Terry rounded into a more complete performer as a sophomore as she helped the Lady Rebels to an 18-8 overall finish and a trip to the Class AAA state tournament.
Where she’s headed: Westminster Schools of Augusta, which, despite its place in the Georgia Independent Athletic Association (GIAA), looks to be one of the more solid girls basketball squads in the area.
How she can help: Joining forces with 2022-23 freshman phenom India Williams who poured in 20.6 points a night last season for the Lady Wildcats. Together with 5-foot-8 senior Aimee Spurlock, Terry could give Westminster one of the most devastating “big 3s” in girls basketball in the CSRA, regardless of classification or league. And judging by the trio’s performance in Tuesday night’s 69-43 preseason scrimmage win over Harlem — Williams, Spurlock and Terry scored 22, 19 and 16 points apiece, respectively in the game — they’re already well on their way toward making that happen.
5-foot-6 Sophomore Montana Jenkins:
Where she’s from: Jenkins joins former Hephzibah teammate Jaliyah Terry in departing from the Rebels’ program. The talented sophomore was one of the top three leading scorers for Hephzibah last year.
Where she’s headed: She’s joined the aforementioned Westside transfer Kennedy Armistead on the roster of defending Class AAAA SCHSL state champion North Augusta.
How she can help: Jenkins is another combo player who will give the Yellow Jackets solid scoring as well as capable ball handling, and will help fill in some gaps from the impact players who departed from last year’s Yellow Jackets squad.
