HIGH SCHOOL

Cesar Chavez DB Donte Lindsey to transfer to Mountain Pointe

Richard Obert

azcentral sports

For the second time this week, Laveen Cesar Chavez lost a top football player to a Southeast Valley powerhouse.

Cornerback Donte Lindsey, who had 22 pass breakups on varsity as a sophomore last season, said in a text message that he is transferring to Phoenix Mountain Pointe.

Earlier this week, 6-foot-4, 175-pound junior wide receiver Scieneaux Jarmon enrolled at Chandler Hamilton, where he began participating in spring football workouts on Tuesday.

Because Hamilton doesn't finish up the spring semester until next Tuesday, the old Arizona Interscholastic Association transfer rule applies for Jarmon, if he takes his finals at Hamilton.

Lindsey said in a text Friday that he has finished up this semester at Chavez and has transferred to Mountain Pointe.

"But I have to wait for my test scores to come back," he said. "Got to wait for my transcript from Chavez to be completed. Will be officially enrolled on Monday."

David Hines, assistant director of the AIA, said that the new "50 percent" transfer rule applies if the student-athlete finishes up this semester at one school, before transferring.

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So Lindsey may have to sit out the first five games of his junior season, unless he wins a hardship appeal with the AIA hardship committee. That will comprise of conference chairmen (district athletic directors), Hines said.

Hines said he expects the hardship committee to be "more stringent" than in the past.

Lindsey, 5-foot-11, 175 pounds, said he is transferring because one of his classmates died as a result of gang violence around Cesar Chavez.

"I didn't feel safe anymore," he texted. "Also it's been so many threats throughout my school, I decided I needed a fresh start in a new environment."

Hines said that since the new transfer legislation passed in March, he has heard there have been at least 30 transfers across the state in all sports.

"We’re going to find out next fall how consistent everybody is being with the new rule," Hines said. "What difficult is the transition period and how to monitor it."

To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-460-1710. Follow him at twitter.com/azc_obert.