The San Francisco prep basketball scene lost one of its most exciting talents this week, as Nigel Burris decided to transfer from Stuart Hall to San Jose-Archbishop Mitty.
A 6-foot-6, 180-pound small forward, Burris was a second-team All-City selection by The Examiner this past season, and the Sophomore of the Year. He was named the only sophomore on the BCL West’s All-League First Team.
The move was announced by his father Damon on facebook on Monday.
“It’s sad to leave such a special community,” Damon wrote. “And yet, he is excited for what lies ahead.”
Under head coach Charley Johnson, Burris developed into a dynamic scorer who could not only bang in the paint, but hit jumpers on the wing and stretch out beyond the arc.
The Knights went 28-6 last season overall, and 10-0 in league, but lost in the BCL West title game. They advanced to the second round of the CIF Division III state playoffs, where they were upset by No. 12-seed Palo Alto in a rematch from the preseason.
Burris will join a Mitty team that went 17-7 overall last season, and won its fifth West Catholic Athletic League title in a row with an 11-3 record.
The No. 1-seeded Monarchs lost in the second round of the CIF Central Coast Section Open Division playoffs to No. 8 Sacred Heart Cathedral. Seeded No. 5 in the state Open Division playoffs, they lost to No. 4-seeded Modesto Christian, which ended up losing in the regional finals to No. 2-seeded Sheldon.
Burris joins a very talented returning cast, including senior guards Devan Sapp and Marcus Greene, and rising junior Michael Mitchell, one of the best sophomores in the Bay Area last season.
