Weston Ranch senior standout Donjaé Lindsey is heading to Southern California Academy where he is sure to gain exposure to top-level competition and college scouts.
Southern California Academy announced the addition on its Twitter account Wednesday, welcoming the rising 6-foot guard.
“Freaking athletic with high level instincts,” the Tweet said. “Downhill, tough, physical & relentless at the Point Guard position. Really good defender. Productive when he's on the floor.”
Based in Reseda, SCA's national team is coached by Julius von Hanzlik and competes in the West Division of The Grind Session, which hosts competitions for prep-school teams at The PHHacility in Phoenix, Ariz. The final event of the season, The Grind Session World Championship, takes place Feb. 27-March 5.
With the high school season in doubt, this is Lindsey's opportunity to garner offers from four-year universities. Last year, he led Weston Ranch with 17 points per game as the Cougars made program history by winning their first California Interscholastic Federation NorCal Regional Championships title in Division II.
Over the fall, Lindsey and other Weston Ranch players got to show their skills with the Weston Ranch Jr. Cougars Basketball Club. In Oct. 23-25, they participated in the Border League tournament in Arizona and seized the California Division crown with a 4-0 finish.
Lindsey was a breakout star at Border League, averaging 24.2 points and seven rebounds. He poured in a team-high 27 points and drained 3 of 5 3-pointers in the final.
Lindsey is the third recent Manteca Unified star to leave for a prep school.
After three scintillating seasons at Manteca High, Keyondrei “Kiwi” Gardner transferred to Westwind Prep Academy (Phoenix) in 2010 but was deemed ineligible for arriving in his senior year. He's now part of the Santa Cruz Warriors NBA G League team.
In 2016, 6-9 center Kenny Wooten led Manteca to the CIF State Division III title in his lone season of eligibility with the Buffaloes. Soon after, he transferred to Las Vegas-based Trinity International School. Wooten went on play two seasons at Oregon and most recently was claimed off waivers by the NBA's Houston Rockets.