Transfer tracker: Hamilton OL Toby Mealer, ASU commit, makes move to Utah

Without a tough transfer penalty in the Arizona Interscholastic Association, it's common every year at this time for players to make their moves. It's become the high school version of the NCAA transfer portal. One big difference: Unless the player and his family can provide a just reason for the move and gain a hardship from the AIA, the player will sit out the first five games of the season.

This has not been a deterrent since this rule was implemented, because they're eligible for the playoffs. This was the main impetus for the AIA starting the eight-team Open Division playoff comprising the top programs among the three big-school conferences in 2019 because of the so-called "destination" schools attracting top transfers every year.

Here is an ongoing tracker of top Arizona high school football players making transfer moves:

All-Arizona tackle moves to Utah

New Chandler Hamilton coach Travis Dixon confirmed in a text message that 2025 offensive tackle Toby Mealer has moved to Utah, where he'll be playing for Lehi High School.

Mealer, 6-foot-5, 330 pounds, lists Lehi as his school on his X profile. He has committed to Arizona State.

Returning a message to The Republic in direct message on X, Mealer said, "Hamilton was just a hostile environment."

Mealer made All-Arizona as a junior as one of the state's most dominant offensive linemen.

Dixon, a Hamilton alum who led Mesa Eastmark last season, said he didn't have much interaction with Mealer so he didn't know details beyond that he has left to move to Utah.

Desert Edge QB moving out of state

Goodyear Desert Edge co-head coach Mark Carter confirmed that junior quarterback Hezekiah Millender is moving to Athens, Georgia, to play his senior football season at Clarke Central High.

Millender was instrumental in getting Desert Edge to the 5A state championship and nearly knocking off Gilbert Higley in a 42-41 thriller. Millender, who is 6-foot-3 and weighs 195 pounds, rallied the Scorpions from a big second-half deficit, completing 16 of 20 passes for 326 yards and two TDs. One of the top dual threats in the state, Millender passed for 2,448 yards and 26 TDs with eight interceptions and ran for 653 yards and eight TDs on an 11-3 team.

Clarke Central went 5-5 last season.

Carter said Millender's move caught him and his brother, Marcus, who is the co-head coach, by surprise.

"Marcus and I have always been pro-family," Mark Carter said in a text. "So if Hezekiah and his family think this is a good move, then we're supporting the decision.

"Being upset would make us hypocrites. Disappointed, sure. At the same time, we wish him the best."

Millender has not returned a message from The Arizona Republic.

Shadow Ridge QB transfers to Liberty

Surprise Shadow Ridge sophomore quarterback Jayden Pico told The Republic through direct message on X that he has transferred to state champion Peoria Liberty.

Liberty graduates two-time Gatorade Arizona Player of the Year Navi Bruzon, but his backup, 2025 Hayden Fletcher, is expected to have a breakout senior season for the Lions. He's been waiting his turn at Liberty, completing 26 of 40 for 404 yards in mop-up duty last season.

Shadow Ridge has yet to hire a new coach, which made the move by Pico unexpected.

Pico, 5-foot-11 and weighing 175 pounds, started on the varsity team in his freshman and sophomore seasons at Shadow Ridge. Last season, he passed for 1,261 yards and three touchdowns with six interceptions and ran for 763 yards and five touchdowns on 87 carries on a 1-9 team.

During his freshman year, when Shadow Ridge went 4-6, Pico passed for 2,011 yards and 18 touchdowns with four interceptions, completing 143 of 238 passes, and ran for 740 yards and eight touchdowns on 78 carries.

Saguaro DB Zeth Angel Thues makes move to Liberty

State champion Peoria Liberty will be adding a big-time player to what could be the best defense in the state next season with standout sophomore safety Zeth Angel Thues, who is coming over from 6A champion Scottsdale Saguaro.

Thues announced in December he was leaving Saguaro, but didn't make his decision about which school until this week. He made it official Friday morning.

"I'm choosing Liberty because it's close to home and I like how they coached us while I was at Saguaro," Thues said to The Arizona Republic in a direct message on X, formerly Twitter. "Honestly, I was supposed to go there but went to Saguaro because all of my teammates from my youth team AZ Bandits went there."

Liberty beat Saguaro 31-3 last season on its way to its first Open Division state championship, finishing 12-1, with the lone loss coming at Corona Centennial (California).

Thues, 5-foot-11 and weighing 185 pounds, is one of the top sophomores in the state. He had a breakout season with 78 tackles, 44 of which were solo, along with two interceptions and eight passes defended.

Sierra Linda QB makes move to Mountain Pointe

Sierra Linda sophomore quarterback Camar Lee has transferred to Phoenix Mountain Pointe, where he'll compete for the job after likely having to sit out the first five games due to the transfer rule.

Lee, 6-foot-1 and 160 pounds, passed for 1,421 yards and 10 touchdowns with 11 interceptions on varsity his sophomore season.

"I’ve transferred to Mountain Pointe because it gives me a better opportunity to showcase what I can do on the field and a better opportunity to go to the next level," Lee said in a direct message on X.

Chaparral WR departs for rival school

Scottsdale Chaparral sophomore wide receiver Tristan Armstrong is transferring to rival school Saguaro, which is coming off of a 6A championship season. Armstrong, 6-2, 185, had 18 catches for 246 yards and four touchdowns during a 2-8 season. Armstrong was rated the No. 20 prospect in The Arizona Republic's Fab 50.

He said in a direct message that he felt Saguaro was a better fit for him and that Chaparral wasn't using him to his full potential.

Thues had 78 tackles, two interceptions and eight passes defended during his sophomore season.

Cam Allen leaving Central for Chaparral

Cam Allen, regarded as the top 2027 quarterback in the state, announced that he was transferring from Phoenix Central to Chaparral in an X post. Central coach Chandler Hovik left after last season to lead his alma mater, Laveen Cesar Chavez. Allen's father, Mat, was the offensive coordinator at Central.

Allen, 5-foot-11 and 170 pounds, passed for 2,121 yards and 28 touchdowns with only three interceptions on an 8-2 varsity team during his freshman year.

Laveen Cesar Chavez gained Phoenix Camelback freshman quarterback Mason Penrod, 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds, who appeared in one varsity game at quarterback.

Cactus O-lineman transferring to Centennial

Cactus sophomore offensive lineman Jesus Diaz III announced on Christmas Day that he was transferring to Centennial, where he'll be joining wide receiver/defensive back Nikko Boncore, another Cactus player transferring out.

Nikko Boncore leaves Cactus for Centennial

Nikko Boncore emerged in his sophomore and junior seasons as one of the state's most explosive wide receivers at Glendale Cactus. Now he's headed a few miles west to Peoria Centennial, which appears to be the team to beat in the Open Division next season with quarterback Kainan Manna back after leading the Coyotes to an 11-2 record with both losses coming against Peoria Liberty, including the Open state championship game.

Boncore, 6-foot, and 165 pounds, will also likely start at cornerback for the Coyotes, announced his transfer move on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Boncore had 92 catches for 1,214 yards and 15 touchdowns in 11 games after grabbing 62 passes for 1,207 yards and nine touchdowns his sophomore year when he helped Cactus reach the 5A football final.

Shamar Berryhill, brother leave Sabino for Centennial

The impact of Centennial graduating two-way stars Kenny Worthy III and Noah Carter won't be felt so hard now that the Berryhill brothers are on their way to Peoria Centennial.

Shamar Berryhill, a junior receiver and defensive back/linebacker, led Tucson Sabino to the 3A state championship this fall. He'll be joined by 2027 receiver/defensive back Romeo, his brother, who figures to be on the same track as Shamar as a major impact player.

Stanley Berryhill, the player's father, said that the family is moving to Peoria from Tucson because of his work.

Shamar, 6-foot-1 and 190 pounds, made The Arizona Republic's All-Arizona team this year, after catching 75 passes for 1,392 yards and 20 TDs. He also had 89 tackles and two interceptions. Romeo, 5-10, 140, started in the secondary on Sabino's championship team and had 31 tackles and an interception. He averaged 18 yards on three catches.

Centennial likes to play its top players both ways, so Shamar Berryhill and Nikko Boncore likely won't ever leave the field next season.

To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @azc_obert

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona high school football standouts making moves to other schools