High school basketball: Matas Buzelis, Elliot Cadeau and Bryson Tucker among impact transfers for 2022-23 season

AZ Compass Prep, Link Academy, Montverde Academy, Southern California Academy and Sunrise Christian Academy among programs re-shaping rosters.

Thumbnail image of this articles writer: Jordan Divens
Elite high school basketball programs are reloading once again this offseason through the prep version of the transfer portal with programs like AZ Compass Prep (Chandler, Ariz.), Link Academy (Branson, Mo.), Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.), Southern California Academy (Castaic, Calif.) and Sunrise Christian Academy (Bel Aire, Kan.) among the most active.

IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) may have made the biggest individual splash so far in the off-season as the Ascenders added Bryson Tucker, who is regarded as the No. 5 prospect in the Class of 2024.

Other top 10 prospect on the move include Matas Buzelis, the No. 7 prospect in the Class of 2023 headed to Sunrise Christian Academy, and Elliot Cadeau, the No. 7 prospect in the Class of 2024 joining Link Academy.

California is the destination for three of the more high-profile transfers this spring. Former Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) guards Caleb Foster and Mercy Miller are headed to Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks, Calif.) while Mikey Williams – the MaxPreps National Freshman of the Year in 2019-20 – is returning to the school he left following that season, San Ysidro (San Diego).

Williams, regarded as the No. 15 prospect in the Class of 2023, is one of the highest-rated senior-to-be to make transfer plans public. He scored 77 points in a game during his freshman campaign at the San Diego school.

Read on for a look at players known to be on the move. Check back throughout the summer for updates.
Five-star Class of 2023 guard Ja'Kobe Walter drives toward the basket in the Texas Class 6A state title game.
Photo: Robbie Rakestraw
Five-star Class of 2023 guard Ja'Kobe Walter drives toward the basket in the Texas Class 6A state title game.
Top 20 impact transfers

6-4 | 2023 | Guard
Previous school: Calvary Christian Academy (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
247Sports Composite: No. 24

7-1 | 2024 | Center
Previous school: Christian Brothers (St. Louis, Mo.)
247Sports Composite: No. 24

Matas Buzelis, Sunrise Christian Academy
6-9 | 2023 | Wing
Previous school: Brewster Academy (Wolfeboro, N.H.)
247Sports Composite: No. 7

6-1 | 2024 | Guard
Previous school: Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.)
247Sports Composite: No. 7

6-0 | 2023 | Guard
Previous school: Chambers (Charlotte, N.C.)
247Sports Composite: No. 68

Baye Fall, Accelerated Schools (Denver, Colo.)
6-10 | 2023 | Center
Previous school: Denver Prep Academy (Denver, Colo.)
247Sports Composite: No. 13

6-5 | 2023 | Guard
Previous school: Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.)
247Sports Composite: No. 16

6-6 | 2023 | Wing
Previous school: Male (Louisville, Ky.)
247Sports Composite: No. 50

6-7 | 2023 | Wing
Previous school: Taft (Cincinnati, Ohio)
247Sports Composite: No. 47

Chris Johnson, Montverde Academy
6-5 | 2023 | Guard
Previous school: Fort Bend Elkins (Missouri City, Texas)
247Sports Composite: No. 28

6-3 | 2023 | Guard
Previous school: John Paul II (Plano, Texas)
247Sports Composite: No. 53

Miro Little, Sunrise Christian Academy
6-4 | 2023 | Guard
Previous school: Helsinki Basketball Academy (Finland)
247Sports Composite: N/R

Liam McNeeley, Montverde Academy
6-7 | 2024 | Forward
Previous school: John Paul II
247Sports Composite: No. 12

Vyctorius Miller, AZ Compass Prep
6-5 | 2024 | Guard
Previous school: Crean Lutheran (Irvine, Calif.)
247Sports Composite: No. 9

7-0 | 2023 | Center
Previous school: Commonwealth Academy (Springfield, Mass.)
247Sports Composite: No. 25

6-5 | 2024 | Guard
Previous school: DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.)
247Sports Composite: No. 40

6-7 | 2024 | Wing
Previous school: Georgetown Prep (Md.)
247Sports Composite: No. 30

6-6 | 2024 | Wing
Previous school: Mount St. Joseph (Baltimore, Md.)
247Sports Composite: No. 5

Ja'Kobe Walter, Link Academy
6-5 | 2023 | Guard
Previous school: McKinney (Texas)
247Sports Composite: No. 21

6-3 | 2023 | Guard
Previous school: Vertical Academy (Charlotte, N.C.)
247Sports Composite: No. 15

Other notable transfers

Class of 2023
Blue Cain, IMG Academy from Knoxville Catholic (Tenn.)
Bryce Cash, Carmel Christian from Charlotte Christian (N.C.)
Jacolb Cole, Link Academy from Bellaire (Texas)
Comeh Emuobor, Brewster Academy from Ravenscroft (N.C.)
J.P. Estrella, Brewster Academy from South Portland (Maine)
Owen Freeman, Moline (Ill.) from Bradley-Bourbonnais (Ill.)
Christian Hammond, Southern California Academy from Colorado Prep (Colo.)
Zayden High, AZ Compass Prep from Smithson Valley (Texas)
Zaide Lowery, La Lumiere from Kickapoo (Mo.)
Collin Murray-Boyles, Wasatch Academy from A.C. Flora (S.C.)
Äsa Newell, Montverde Academy from Choctawhatchee (Fla.)
Caden Johnson, Link Academy from Jacksonville (Ala.)
Trent Pierce, AZ Compass Prep from Union (Okla.)
Mike Price, Centennial (Corona, Calif.) from Sierra Canyon (Calif.)
Gabe Warren, Southern California Academy from John Paul II

Class of 2024
Pharaoh Compton, AZ Compass Prep from Spring Valley (Nev.)
Malick Diallo, Wasatch Academy from Juan Diego Catholic (Utah)
Jahseem Felton, Southern California Academy from Gaston Christian (N.C.)
Curtis Givens III, Montverde Academy from Memphis University (Tenn.)
Del Jones, Huntington Prep from Bishop O'Connell (Va.)
R'chaun King, Link Academy from Memphis University (Tenn.)
Jordan Mccullum, Huntington Prep from Harriman (Tenn.)
Carter McDole, Bishop Walsh from Dr. Phillips (Fla.)
Mercy Miller, Notre Dame from Oak Hill Academy
Rakease Passmore, Combine Academy from A.C. Reynolds (N.C.)
Malik Rasul, Westtown from Sierra Canyon
Micah Robinson, Southern California Academy from Greenhill (Texas)
T.J. Williams, Sunrise Christian Academy from Heights (Kan.)

Class of 2025
Zion Collins, Word of God Christian (Raleigh, N.C.) from Winston-Salem Christian (N.C.)
Ace Flagg, Montverde Academy from Nokomis (Maine)
Cooper Flagg, Montverde Academy from Nokomis
Braden Freeman, Moline (Ill.) from Bradley-Bourbonnais (Ill.)
Jayden Kelsey, Westtown from Overland (Colo.)