Two Grand Rapids basketball players transfer to prep school

Northview’s Izzy Hatibu, left, and East Kentwood’s Majok Ajuong have transferred to a prep school starting this week. (Photos | Lenny Padilla).

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Izzy Hatibu and Majok Ajuong were busy setting up their new dorm-style bedroom on Thursday evening, Oct. 8. 

The two Grand Rapids area basketball players have found a new home for the next year. They have transferred to a prep school called GA Rise Academy. It is just outside of Atlanta in Conyers, Georgia.

Hatibu, a 6-foot-4, 180-pound senior forward was at Northview High School and Ajuong is a 6-foot-7, 190-pound forward from East Kentwood High School. He has reclassified from 2027 to 2028. 

“I felt like I needed to make a change,” Ajuong said. “Get a shot at playing Division I. The looks I was getting now weren’t very good.”

Hatibu was actually still enrolled at Northview as of Wednesday.

“It was crazy,” he said. “It was a quick turnaround. I didn’t figure this out until the 5th hour of class at Northview (yesterday).”

GA Rise Academy is a basketball-focused school that pairs with nearby Hills Academy for the academic portion of their education.

“We heard about it awhile back,” Ajuong. “We were connected through Coach John.”

Johnathan White was one of his travel-ball coaches with Young Hustle. 

Rise Academy plays on the Grind Session basketball circuit and plays a schedule of more than 50 games. 

After Hatibu and Ajuong finished setting up their new room, they had just a few hours to pack again as their new team is going to play their first games already.

“Today we’re leaving for Orlando, Florida, and we’ll play three games,” Ajuong said on Thursday evening.

Will they miss playing for their high schools?

“I’m kinda bummed,” Ajuong said. “I really like the guys there. EK is a great place and team.”

Said Hatibu “I’m kinda upset. Some of those guy I’ve known since we were little kids. But I’m still rooting for them.”