Same Faces, New Places: A FTH Transfer Report

San Diego's hoop scene, much like the rest of high school and college hoops, has been forever altered by the rise in transfers and player movement.

Want proof? All but one of last year's SD Open Division teams will have added or lost an impact player to transfer this season.

In this report, we'll take stock of many of the major transfers and newcomers that will have an impact on this year's landscape.

Big Moves

A pair of transfers to Mira Mesa and Mater Dei Catholic headline the top newcomers to the region, and both will have a big impact - figuratively and literally.

6-7 Timothy Dorn checked into Mira Mesa this fall from Mililani High in Hawaii after his father, who serves in the Navy, was stationed in San Diego. Dorn made his SD debut at the Creme of the County to rave reviews from scouts and onlookers, who wowed at his length, athleticism and high motor. He gives the Marauders something they sorely lacked during last year's Division 3 semifinals run: size and frontcourt versatility. His addition should make them a contender in this year's Division 2 field.

The Crusaders, which were hammered by a transfer exodus this offseason, received good news when 6-9 Davaughn Hueitt and his brother, 6-1 G Darius, checked into school, returning to San Diego after playing their sophomore and junior seasons in Florida and Texas, respectively. The Hueitt Twins, who started their career at San Diego High in 2021-22, fill some immediate needs for Mater Dei Catholic in their starting lineup and should help the Crusaders be competitive in the perennially tough Mesa League.

Other transfer bigs of note: 6-5 2027 F Alejandro Gonzalez, from Escondido Charter to La Jolla Country Day; 6-4 2027 F Jasen Hughes Jr., from Mt. Miguel to Granite Hills, 6-7 2026 F Ivan Marchenko, Ukraine to Army Navy Academy; 6-5 2027 F Dawere Tut, from Orange Glen to Del Lago Academy.

Sharpshooters Switch Private Schools

One of the first players to leave Mater Dei Catholic over the offseason - and perhaps the most significant - was 6-3 2026 G Lincoln Grogan, who transferred to St. Augustine.

Grogan, an All-Mesa first-team selection last season, is arguably one of the state's top shooters from distance and midrange, boasting nearly 50-40-90 percent shooting splits from the field, three-point range and the charity stripe for his career.

His addition gives the Saints yet another offensive weapon when he becomes eligible after the sit-out period, which ends Dec. 31. Over the summer, Grogan fit seamlessly into the Saints lineup, averaging 17.5 points per game at the prestigious Section 7 Team Camp where he shot 58.5% from the field and 51.5% from long distance to help his team go 3-1.

While Grogan will make his debut in January, another sharpshooter will have to wait a year to make his debut with his new team, as CIF denied the transfer of 6-2 2026 SG Ezekiel Walker from Maranatha Christian to Francis Parker. Walker's absence is a tough blow for the Lancers, who expected him to start right away for a team with aspirations of winning a Coastal League championship and more.

Popular Destinations

During the rise of the "super team" era of the 2010s, you often saw multiple players transfer to the same destination in an effort to win championships.

While it's been on the wane at the high school level in SD the past few seasons, this year we saw several schools become hot destinations for transfer players.

Victory Christian, which is making the move to Division 1, added three impact transfers to the mix, starting with the region's returning leading scorer, 5-10 senior Angel Ochoa from St. Joseph Academy. Ochoa joins returners Jayden Gray and Angel Escarcega to give the Knights a nice three-headed attack on the perimeter. The Knights also added 6-4 wing Kaerym Araiza from Mexico and 6-6 post Elijah Bragg from Mater Dei Catholic, further bolstering a roster that should put the team firmly in the mix for an Open Division berth.

After a season where Lincoln made it to the Division 1 quarterfinals, the Hornets will have at least four new faces, starting with Victory Christian guard Mason Zennedjian, 6-4 San Diego transfer Zechariah Hollingsworth and 6-3 Scripps Ranch transfer Sawyer Flint. Morse transfer Jaden Irasusta rounds out the quartet, which will join holdovers Jair Benjamin and Josiah McDowell to give Jeff Harper-Harris' crew a strong team in the Eastern League.

Mission Bay has historically been a popular destination for transfers under head coach Marshawn Cherry, and this year was no different as Mater Dei Catholic G Maseyo Elliott and Temecula Chaparral duo Jocori Bartlett and Amari Council made the move to the Buccaneers, giving them one of the region's deepest rosters -- yet again. Another transfer, 2027 G Bryce McMillan, will likely start out on the JV level after coming over from Mt. Carmel.

Return to Green Grass

This year's transfer group saw a couple of players return to their original schools.

6-3 Scripps Ranch junior forward Runnar "RJ" Miller rejoined Madison after spending his sophomore year at Scripps Ranch. Miller, who was an All-FTH freshman team member in 2022-23, joins a much improved Warhawks squad that has a solid core of juniors.

Santa Fe Christian welcomed back Coen Sponsel, who spent his sophomore year at Cathedral Catholic but failed to crack the Dons rotation in his lone year. Sponsel, who has grown from 5-9 to 6-2 since his freshman year, appears poised to be a starter and serious contributor for the first time in his HS career for the Eagles, which also added 6-1 sophomore guard Chase Othick from Torrey Pines.

In South County, 6-1 guard Devion Sawyer-Jones returned to Bonita Vista after spending his junior year at Mission Bay. Sawyer-Jones gives the Barons solid scoring punch on the perimeter, and it will give Sawyer-Jones an opportunity to play the significant role that eluded him during his year at Mission Bay.

Steele duo defects

A pair of Steele Canyon players switched East County addresses, bolstering the Patriots outlook in the process.

The Patriots added 6-0 junior guard Alex Williams and 6-2 guard Ronnie Scott, also a junior, to a solid core with fellow junior standout Juju Lebel, senior stalwart Gannon Pisapia and a collection of unheralded sophomore contributors.

In Williams, a two-time All-FTH underclassmen selection, Christian gets a proven scorer at combo guard. The Patriots get a wild card in Scott, a talented but oft-injured prospect who has a significantly higher ceiling than Williams. If Scott can stay healthy this season, he could be a potential game changer in the back court.

Steele Canyon added a transfer of its own in 6-4 2027 W Chayse Miles, who checks in from Helix. In Miles, the Cougars get an upside-laden swingman who provides solid perimeter shooting and some moxie on the defensive end.

Montgomery to Montgomery

Montgomery hasn't been major players in the so-called transfer portal during their banner three-year run, but had one fall into their laps this fall when 6-1 2026 G Darius "DK" Montgomery checked in after fall recess.

Montgomery (player not team) led Mar Vista in scoring as a sophomore and made big strides this summer in terms of becoming a more complete guard prospect. He gives the Aztecs sorely needed depth and a playmaker that can give one of their primary ball handlers - Alek Sanchez and Xair Mendez - rest during critical spots.

Moving On

The biggest defection from the Section was standout 6-1 junior guard Ty Ingram, who left Cathedral Catholic and moved to Los Angeles, where he'll suit up for Westchester.

Colton Kelley also transferred back to the Pacific Northwest after two years at San Marcos.

Morse lost rapidly improving senior guard Maleek Robinson to Arlington HS in Texas.

Talented and criminally underrated 6-4 wing Isaiah Solomon departed from Oceanside after a breakout season that saw him earn all-league honors.

Under-the-Radar Transfers

Not every transfer has a high profile name. And a number of them will become household names at their new home.

6-0 Leo Hawkinson, who spent his first two years at St. Augustine, checked into La Jolla, where he'll immediately start and give the Vikings a nice boost in the back court that should help them contend in the City League.

Josh Patten and Caleb Williams both joined Tri-City Christian in search of bigger roles, and they'll likely find them after the sit-out period. Patten, a senior, transferred in from Sage Creek, while the 6-1 sophomore Williams was a standout on La Costa Canyon's JV team.

Wyatt Cann, Oceanside's second leading scorer from a year ago as a junior, transferred crosstown to rival El Camino, where he will pair with seniors Logan Ardent and Devin McGee to give the Wildcats one of San Diego's most underrated back courts.

6-2 junior wing Vincent Giglio found himself on the outside of San Marcos' rotation the past season and summer, prompting a switch to rival Mission Hills, where he will be a key member of the junior-heavy Grizzlies rotation. Both Giglio and Michael Goodwyn Jr. make the move across town to the Grizzlies.

Another JV standout on the move is 5-8 2027 PG Alex Besio, who checks into Pacific Ridge after playing his freshman year at Sage Creek. Over the summer Besio showed flashes of high-level playmaking that should make him a great fit for the Firebirds after the sit-out period.

6-5 bruiser Lucas Winkler should figure prominently into Rancho Bernardo's plans after transferring from Ramona. The younger brother of former Broncos standout Knox Winkler had a solid sophomore year for the Bulldogs and is a big reason why the Broncos should be considered a contender in Division 3.

6-6 junior forward EJ Newman checked into Scripps Ranch from Westview this fall. The underrated and skilled forward gives the Falcons yet more size in a frontcourt that already includes 6-7 Alex Gerhant, 6-6 Charlie Barajas and 6-4 Gavin Hallock.

6-3 Chianu Masters moved from Grossmont to San Diego for his sophomore year. Masters, who was the Foothillers second leading scorer, gives Bazz Fontenot a physically built lefty who can stretch the floor and score it off the bounce.

And Otay Ranch adds a pair of transfers coming off of significant injuries in 6-2 guard Jamal Kendrick and 6-4 W Jordyn Webster, both seniors. Kendrick transferred from Olympian after the 2022-2023 season, when he led the Eagles in scoring, but tore his ACL and missed his entire junior season. The well-traveled Webster started his career at Mission Bay and briefly transferred to Montgomery before playing his sophomore and junior year at Eastlake before transferring to the Mustangs for his final year. He missed most of last season with a knee injury.

Other Key Transfers: