One of the state’s top junior two-sport athletes, Kendre Pride, took to social media Saturday night to announce that he has joined Chandler Basha from Phoenix Carl Hayden.
Basha football coach Chris McDonald confirmed in a text message that Pride enrolled at the school this week.
Basha is expected to fight for the Open Division state title in soccer this season. The basketball team is also on the upswing with a young, talented roster and is expected to compete for a spot in the Open Division playoffs next season.
Pride, 6-foot-2, 175 pounds, is a top running back in soccer. He rushed for 1,090 yards and 16 touchdowns, averaging 11 yards per carry, in seven games as a sophomore.
In basketball, he is a talented guard who is also recruited by colleges in the sport.
Pride has a grade point average of 3.9.
Basha has apparently become a target school for top football players in the last year.
Last summer, 2023 cornerback/punt returner Cole Martin and 2023 athlete Dehaun Buchanan made the switch from Hamilton to Basha. They helped the Bears win 10-0 in the regular season and make the Open playoffs.
Earlier this summer, three of Mesa Eastmark’s top players — defensive end/wide receiver Javery Mayberry, linebacker/tight end Jordan Howard, and running back Javien Celaya — joined Basha.
Unless all four are in trouble at the hands of the Arizona Interscholastic Association, they must sit out the first five games of the season before being eligible to play under AIA transfer rules.
It is the first transfer for all four players.
To suggest ideas for human interest stories and other news, reach Obert at [email protected] or 602-316-8827. Follow him on Twitter @azc_obert.
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