AIA clears former Phoenix Christian basketball star Tommy Randolph to play full season at Pinnacle
Tommy Randolph, who put Phoenix Christian's basketball team on the map last season, has been cleared by the Arizona Interscholastic Association to play a full season at Phoenix Pinnacle for his senior year.
Randolph was the biggest of the AIA's winter transfer hardships that were heard on Wednesday. The decisions for those hardships were made on Thursday.
David Hines, executive director of the AIA, confirmed with The Republic on Thursday that Randolph's hardship was approved by the committee.
Randolph had to prove he had a hardship in order to avoid having to sit out the first half of the season, per AIA transfer rules.
"So happy and excited for Tommy to be able to play his senior year," Pinnacle coach Charlie Wilde said. "He is such a great person first and then a player that deserves to be able to compete."
Wilde confirmed that the shooting guard has been living with Pinnacle forward Braylon Johnson's family. He is the brother of former Suns guard Cam Johnson, who now plays for the Brooklyn Nets in the NBA.
Braylon Johnson, who is 6-7, and also a senior, is Pinnacle's top returning player, after averaging 8.4 points and six rebounds last year.
Randolph's story was well-chronicled by The Arizona Republic last season when he led Phoenix Christian to a 24-5 record, reaching the 2A semifinals before losing to Surprise Highland Prep. Randolph averaged 25.9 points for the Cougars. But it was the stuff off the court that made his story riveting.
Denise Elbert, a 13-year volunteer at Heart For the City, a refuge for at-risk kids in Phoenix, brought Randolph into her family, along with his godmother, after his mother died three summers ago. Her family gained custody of him, providing food, clothing, shelter and health insurance.
Before his mother died, Randolph was living in different places with his mom week by week just trying to survive.
Elbert's connection with Randolph was so strong that she told The Republic last year that some day she's going to write a book called, "Tommy and Me."
"He's our family," Elbert told The Republic last year. "Some weeks are really tough because of all the stuff, the trauma. But he's a great kid. He's doing great in school. He's the hardest-working kid on the court. He blows me away every day."
But in August, he left the Elbert home and was no longer with his regular club July basketball team. He ended up living with the Johnson family.
Phoenix Christian coach Ben Stryczek, who helped Randolph after his mother died, always built up Randolph with his college coaching connections, which led to his first offer in July from Cal State Dominguez Hills.
"I wish nothing but the best for him," Stryczek. "I'm happy to hear that he's going to be able to showcase his gifts and talents. I love him like a son."
Pinnacle, which plays in 6A, went 16-14 last year. With the 6-foot-2 Randolph complementing Johnson, Pinnacle could be among the top teams in the state this season.
Stryczek said he feels he still has a team that can contend for the 2A title this season.
"We're hungry right now," he said. "We'll be just fine. He's living in a really, really nice house. I feel like I helped get him from where I found him four years ago... He's in a really good place. We're praying for him. We at PC love him and we wish him nothing but the best."
To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert atrichard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter:@azc_obert
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: AIA clears hoops star Tommy Randolph to play full season at Pinnacle
