Tajh Ariza, Jaylan Mitchell and Davion Thompson headline impact transfers in high school basketball for 2025-26

See list of the top 10 players on the move and how that will impact things on the floor next season.

Thumbnail image of this articles writer: Jordan Divens
By
May 19, 2025, 11:00am
Elite high school basketball programs are beginning the process of reloading once again this off-season through the prep version of the transfer portal. La Lumiere (La Porte, Ind.), Link Academy (Branson, Mo.) and Spire Academy (Geneva, Ohio) are among teams who have made the biggest splashes.

The biggest name on the move is top 10 Class of 2026 prospect Tajh Ariza, who earned second team MaxPreps Junior All-America honors last season for Westchester (Los Angeles, Calif.). Ariza joins fellow top 10 prospects Brandon McCoy and Christian Collins to form an elite trio for St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.). The Braves are ranked No. 1 in the Way-Too-Early MaxPreps Top 25 for 2025-26.

Additionally, top 10 Class of 2027 prospect Jaylan Mitchell is on the move as the first team MaxPreps Sophomore All-America selection looks to guide a new-look Spire Academy program to its first Chipotle Nationals berth under newly-minted head coach Kevin Boyle.

Read on for a look at players known to be on the move ahead of the 2025-26 high school basketball season. Check back throughout the summer for updates.
Top 50 Class of 2026 prospect Jonathan Sanderson tallied 24.0 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.3 assists per contest. (Photo: Scott Hughes)
Top 50 Class of 2026 prospect Jonathan Sanderson tallied 24.0 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.3 assists per contest. (Photo: Scott Hughes)
Tajh Ariza, St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.)
Previous school: Westchester (Los Angeles, Calif.)
6-8 | Wing | Class of 2026
The son of 18-year NBA veteran Trevor Ariza tallied 27 points, 14 rebounds and five assists per contest to help the Comets reach the quarterfinals of the Division II state tournament. The highly-regarded prospect joins a loaded roster.

6-8 | Forward | Class of 2027
Top 50 Class of 2027 prospect was one of three sophomores selected to the Class 6 All-State team last season with averages of 16.6 points, 9.7 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game.

Previous school: Duncanville (Texas)
6-3 | Guard | Class of 2027
Helped the Panthers capture the Conference 6A Division 1 state championship, averaging 9.7 points, 5.2 assists and 3.5 rebounds per contest. The younger brother of Orlando Magic guard Anthony Black follows his head coach to the Sunshine State upstart.

6-5 | Wing | Class of 2026
Guided the Cougars to the Class 4A state semifinals, putting up 20.2 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.9 steals and 1.9 blocked shots per outing. The four-star guard will look to help Kevin Boyle establish a new program into a national powerhouse.

Previous school: Kenwood (Chicago, Ill.)
6-0 | Guard | Class of 2027
Second team MaxPreps Sophomore All-America selection helped the Broncos win their first Chicago Public League championship, tallying 21 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals per game.

Previous school: St. Rose (Belmar, N.J.)
6-6 | Guard | Class of 2026
Helped the Purple Roses advance back to the Non-Public B Tournament championship game, averaging 21.1 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.7 steals and 2.2 assist per contest. Hodge is the first major addition for new head coach Steve Turner.

Jaylan Mitchell, Spire Academy
6-7 | Wing | Class of 2027
Filled the stat sheet with averages of 16.8 points, 11.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 2.1 steals per outing to help double Reitz's win total from the previous season.

6-5 | Guard | Class of 2026
Top 75 prospect tallied 23.2 points, 7.9 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 2.4 steals and 2.3 blocked shots per contest during a strong 2024-25 campaign for the Panthers. Reynolds joins top 25 Class of 2026 prospect Davion Adkins to form an elite one-two punch at his new destination.

Jonathan Sanderson, La Lumiere
6-2 | Guard | Class of 2026
MaxPreps Junior All-America honorable mention selection averaged 24.0 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game to help the Tigers reach the state semifinals. The top 50 prospect joins Class of 2027 transfer Devin Cleveland to form an elite backcourt for the Lakers.

Davion Thompson, Link Academy
Previous school: Bolingbrook (Ill.)
6-2 | Guard | Class of 2027
Illinois MaxPreps Player of the Year put up 24.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists per contest to help the Raiders reach the Class 4A sectional semifinals.

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