Marcel Jones entered his sophomore season as one of many extra intriguing gamers in Arizona highschool soccer. In accordance with Burn Metropolis Sports activities, he led Chaparral’s (Scottsdale, Ariz.) freshman crew final yr to an undefeated season, scoring 40 whole touchdowns and finishing virtually 85% of his passes. He additionally acquired a minimum of two Div. I affords throughout his freshman yr.
The Arizona Republic wrote in a season preview that Jones “may need been probably the most dynamic participant on the freshman degree final yr when the Firebirds’ freshman crew blew out everyone they performed. Runs, passes and makes individuals miss. Anticipate him to have a monster sophomore season on the varsity.”
However that sophomore season has come to an finish. Jones has transferred from Chaparral Excessive Faculty after 4 video games, shifting to cross-town Saguaro Excessive Faculty.
He won’t be eligible for the remainder of the season, based on the Republic. With the transfer, he finishes his sophomore season with 687 passing yards at a 55.5% completion fee and 200 speeding yards on 40 makes an attempt.
Why the sudden change?
Jones’ father, Cedric, advised the Arizona Republic that the transfer was associated to his perception that the Chaparral soccer booster membership “isn’t clear about how its funds are spent” and didn’t have correct oversight, reporter Richard Obert wrote.
Chaparral principal Joshua Painter advised the Republic that Scottsdale Unified Faculty District is “dedicated to reviewing the grievance and figuring out whether or not an investigation is warranted.” Membership enhance president Casey Porter added that he “doesn’t see any substantiation to that declare.”
There was additionally hypothesis that the choice got here after the teaching workers opened up a contest for the beginning quarterback job this week, which Cedric Jones strongly rejected because the rationale for the transfer.
Learn the Republic article right here for a complete overview of the information.
Marcel Jones’ switch is the most recent change for a crew that has undergone a metamorphosis over the past yr. Chaparral was highlighted in Sports activities Illustrated’s September 2022 characteristic about Arizona’s open enrollment coverage and its impact on the state’s highschool soccer scene, and the opening paragraph highlighted the varsity’s need to take down the traditionally dominant Saguaro program.
Nevertheless, over the past a number of months, there have been quite a lot of departures in this system, together with 5 members of the freshman crew that moved to Mountain Pointe (Ahwatukee, Ariz.) and the resignation of head coach Brent Barnes, who accepted a job to educate Yukon Excessive Faculty in Oklahoma, a state wherein he had beforehand lived and coached.
Jones’ departure removes what had been a promising piece of Chaparral’s future. His dominant freshman season led him to be thought of the prime quarterback in Arizona’s class of 2026, and in January, he picked up affords from Arizona State College and UNLV.
Now, he’s off to Saguaro, the place he’ll study below first-year head coach Zak Hill, who has beforehand served roles because the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at ASU and Boise State.
The highschool soccer world will wait till his junior yr to see the progress made.