Frank Couch
Spain Park Basketball
Austin Wiley will transfer to a prep school in Florida.
Austin Wiley’s final year of high school will not be spent at Spain Park.
The rising senior and Auburn commit intends to transfer to a prep school in Florida, Spain Park head coach Donnie Quinn confirmed on Tuesday.
Wiley averaged 21.7 points and 12.1 rebounds per game for the Jags last year, as they advanced to the Class 7A state final.
“He’s a once-in-a-lifetime player with his skill set and his size, to be that developed and that strong at that age.” Quinn said.
Wiley recently traveled abroad with Team USA and competed on the U17 team that won the world championship in Spain on July 3.
Quinn believes that the restrictions of high school basketball, as far as practice time and time spent with coaches, was a determining factor in Wiley moving to a prep school, where “it’s academics and basketball from the first day until the day he leaves.”
“I just think he doesn’t think he sees enough days (in high school basketball) to work at it and to improve himself,” Quinn said.
There are no hard feelings in the move, and Quinn raves about Wiley’s combination of character and ability.
“He’s been nothing but a delight to coach for the last three years,” he said. “Total team player, totally coachable, the whole deal. It’s kind of unique for somebody as talented as he is.”
The Jags will now attempt to move forward without Wiley for the 2016-17 year, and will be led by senior point guard Jamal Johnson. Others will be forced to step forward as well as Wiley takes the next step in his athletic career.
“We’ll wish him well as he moves on,” Quinn said.
