Transfer speculation

[pancho]

Any idea who may be relocating after  christmas or even after the spring semester?

[coachfball87]

On 12/19/2025 at 8:49 PM, pancho said:

Any idea who may be relocating after  christmas or even after the spring semester?

Check DM

[TheAnswer]

Who does MRA, JA, and Hartfield have lined up for January?

[Rebel Bert]

I don't know who is going where. From what I have seen with the 2025-26 numbers posted on MDE website some schools are in trouble with the possibility of being down 25 to 30 students come next October potential reclassification numbers. The Smaller schools aren't growing.  A good example is Heidelberg going from 187 #16 in 2A 2024 to 150 #36 in the 8th thru the 10th grade in 2025-26 which will be the new 9th thru 12th numbers. Less numbers in the classroom less talent on the field. So yes look for the Oilers to struggle some in 2027. And the closing of Wingfield in Jackson has caused less students in JPS high schools. Meridian as some thought will drop to 6A. That shouldn't happen as 7A will be 24 schools with Greenville going to 995 students and 7A. Murrah and Pearl will drop. The lower numbers continue to pop up in public schools. Transferring for sports is not the whole problem.

[JACKTOWN91]

Word is that both New Hope’s QB and RB are going to Starkville. I don’t think they are related to each other. I guess sharing a residence or something since they going at the same time? Regardless, I’m not sure it can replace the hole left by Chris Jones’ departure.

[TheAnswer]

RB is definitely leaving. It’s making it’s rounds on social media.

[coachfball87]

37 minutes ago, TheAnswer said:

RB is definitely leaving. It’s making its rounds on social media.

Since it’s from New Hope to Starkville instead of other way around, I’m sure MHSAA will turn a blind eye to it. 

[coachfball87]

Also saw Oxford QB going to Tupelo. So it begins. 

[Chunky6617]

If those schools just lay down and let them leave without a legit reason, then they get what they deserve I guess. Ain’t no way I would let it slide 

[Rawcones]

1 hour ago, Chunky6617 said:

If those schools just lay down and let them leave without a legit reason, then they get what they deserve I guess. Ain’t no way I would let it slide 

What exactly is a legit reason? No need to keep anyone that doesn't want to be kept. As long as all basis are covered I'm cool with it. 

[pancho]

whats to stop a family from selling a home and buying another in another town?  What about one parent living in a RV park and getting mail there?

[Old Golfer]

Some schools seem to get to recruit without question. 

[pancho]

5 hours ago, JACKTOWN91 said:

Word is that both New Hope’s QB and RB are going to Starkville. I don’t think they are related to each other. I guess sharing a residence or something since they going at the same time? Regardless, I’m not sure it can replace the hole left by Chris Jones’ departure.

what hole is that?  

[Chunky6617]

4 hours ago, Rawcones said:

What exactly is a legit reason? No need to keep anyone that doesn't want to be kept. As long as all basis are covered I'm cool with it. 

You sit back and just allow these bigger schools to poach your players, you kill your program. If the family moves, then so be it. If the family claims to move but never does, or the player moves in with a friend or “cousin” then they should be ruled ineligible. Recruiting in public schools ball is getting out of hand. Again, if the family moves to another district then so be it. But other than that, it should be shut down 

[Chunky6617]

2 hours ago, pancho said:

whats to stop a family from selling a home and buying another in another town?  What about one parent living in a RV park and getting mail there?

If the family moves then that’s fine. But too often these players just go live with somebody else, or they just claim an address at another district and never move at all. 

[Chunky6617]

2 hours ago, Old Golfer said:

Some schools seem to get to recruit without question. 

I know oak grove, Hattiesburg, petal, and west jones recruit like crazy. I don’t know about the schools up north but I heard plenty of stories about those bigger schools up there. Petal at least tries to do it “legally”. They got the kid from taylorsville by offering the mother a job at the school as an assistant basketball coach. So nothing you can do about that. West Jones finally got busted last year, and got the kid from stringer ruled ineligible but that was only because the coach from stringer fought back and didn’t just allow them to poach his best players. Other schools have players living with coaches while claiming addresses that they don’t actually live at. Heidelberg has been rumored to be doing that right now currently.  Look, if the players actually move to those school districts with their families then so be it. But these bigger schools cherry picking the best players from smaller schools and those players never actually moving to those districts has got to stop. 

[Rebel Bert]

3 hours ago, pancho said:

whats to stop a family from selling a home and buying another in another town?  What about one parent living in a RV park and getting mail there?

Parents move all the time which is a legit reason to transfer. With social media the hype has caught up to it. Now the new school and coach have to dot the eyes and cross the tees by July 1. 

[pancho]

1 hour ago, Chunky6617 said:

I know oak grove, Hattiesburg, petal, and west jones recruit like crazy. I don’t know about the schools up north but I heard plenty of stories about those bigger schools up there. Petal at least tries to do it “legally”. They got the kid from taylorsville by offering the mother a job at the school as an assistant basketball coach. So nothing you can do about that. West Jones finally got busted last year, and got the kid from stringer ruled ineligible but that was only because the coach from stringer fought back and didn’t just allow them to poach his best players. Other schools have players living with coaches while claiming addresses that they don’t actually live at. Heidelberg has been rumored to be doing that right now currently.  Look, if the players actually move to those school districts with their families then so be it. But these bigger schools cherry picking the best players from smaller schools and those players never actually moving to those districts has got to stop. 

you talking basketball, baseball or football?   bigger schools up north?

[Rawcones]

There's literally nothing you or anyone can do about it. If a parent wants their child/children at a certain school it will happen. Like it or not. But to me this seems jealous hearted and or just plain mad that kid decides not to play for you anymore.... and I'm an hattiesburg high supporter. We've had so many kids that left and twice as many to come in. But at the end of the day I was never bitter about the kids that left not one bit. 

[Rebel Bert]

Your 1A and some 2A schools will have much lower numbers come October release of reclassification 2026 according to 2025-26 numbers posted to the point that some need to be closed.

[Chunky6617]

1 hour ago, pancho said:

you talking basketball, baseball or football?   bigger schools up north?

Football but I’m sure it goes on in all sports 

[Chunky6617]

51 minutes ago, Rawcones said:

There's literally nothing you or anyone can do about it. If a parent wants their child/children at a certain school it will happen. Like it or not. But to me this seems jealous hearted and or just plain mad that kid decides not to play for you anymore.... and I'm an hattiesburg high supporter. We've had so many kids that left and twice as many to come in. But at the end of the day I was never bitter about the kids that left not one bit. 

That’s false. You can’t just send your kid to school where you want them to plays sports at. West Jones found that out this year. 

[coachfball87]

23 minutes ago, Chunky6617 said:

That’s false. You can’t just send your kid to school where you want them to plays sports at. West Jones found that out this year. 

Correct. Can’t “move for athletic purposes”. But depending on where you are moving, MHSAA will overlook some. 

[Vott]

12 minutes ago, coachfball87 said:

Correct. Can’t “move for athletic purposes”. But depending on where you are moving, MHSAA will overlook some. 

If you move for academic purposes you should be able to move for athletic purposes. 

[Rawcones]

39 minutes ago, Chunky6617 said:

That’s false. You can’t just send your kid to school where you want them to plays sports at. West Jones found that out this year. 

But I can for academic purposes??? Gotcha!!!