South Mountain basketball standout Ginnis transfers to AZ Compass

Point guard Lareon “LJ” Ginnis misplaced his junior basketball period at Phoenix South Mountain for the reason that the district elected not to participate in winter athletics thanks to the pandemic.

But he’ll be reunited at AZ Compass Prep in Chandler with his coach, Erik Hood, for his senior year.

Hood, a previous assistant coach at South Mountain, is primary AZ Compass Prep’s newly formed 2nd team that will also participate in in countrywide tournaments.

Jeremy Soria remaining as South Mountain’s head coach immediately after the Phoenix Union High University District resolved to not engage in in the Arizona Interscholastic Association’s winter season period that began in January because the district’s COVID-19 optimistic instances had been however significant.

Ginnis was profiled by The Arizona Republic in February on how he was ready to engage in whilst the point out was enjoying.

“I am just staying humble, being concentrated, recognizing God has got a system for me and my family members,” Ginnis mentioned then.

He keyed South Mountain’s operate to the 2020 5A point out semifinals. He scored 23 details in the semifinal decline to Goodyear Millennium, and due to the fact then got some offers from lesser Division I colleges.

Ginnis ongoing practising on his possess while colleges were being not able to get their teams jointly for routines mainly because of the rigorous COVID-19 protocols.

“LJ made a decision to enroll at AZ Compass as he’s seeking to play on a nationwide stage,” Hood claimed in a text message.

Larry Ginnis, LJ’s father, mentioned the family made the decision to transfer LJ to AZ Compass to broaden his expertise on a higher platform “to showcase his talent established and to compete with other elite players so he could elevate his match.”