How transferring schools impacts M.A., Minnesota athletics

Ayden Green stands on the sidelines, wearing a new jersey and facing a crowd he doesn’t know. Just months earlier, he was a student at Breck. Now he is navigating the halls of Minnehaha Academy, trying to balance the load of sports with the stacks of syllabi and assignments. Green isn’t alone; he is part of a growing trend of student athletes across the metro area looking for a fresh start. Driven by social media visibility and the ‘trickle-down’ from college athletics, transferring has become prevalent in the Twin Cities sports field. At Minnehaha Academy, this shift is forcing athletes to balance high-stakes eligibility rules with the daunting reality of starting over in a new community

NCAA, social media influence trend

Athletic Director Josh Thurow and Administrative Assistant for the athletics department Emily Kennett agree that the “trickle-down” effect from the NCAA portals and the plethora of metro area schools has normalized transferring. “It’s not that Minnehaha has seen an increase specifically, but overall, there’s a lot of transfers between all the high schools here in the Twin Cities,” Kennett said.

Thurow and Kennett noted that the digital advancements have changed the fundamentals and how families choose schools. While players 20 years ago had limited information, today’s families can easily track top teams and player rankings online.

The Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) currently prohibits students from being varsity-eligible for one year when transferring unless there are extenuating circumstances that fit into their categories.

Although these rules themselves haven’t changed specifically, their enforcement has been heightened.

“It’s a difficult thing to be varsity eligible at your new school if you’re a transfer unless you qualify for the reasons that can maintain your eligibility,” said Thurow.

Minnehaha’s athletic department follows a vow to value philosophy: accepting transfers immediately while prioritizing the development of current students over active recruiting.

“When you transfer, the first day you’re here, you have become a Redhawk. You’re accepted,” said Thurow.

No eligibility guarantee

Junior Ayden Green found himself debating the idea of transferring last winter while attending Breck. After having conversations with his family, they found that their decision to move, and feeling as though Breck wasn’t the best fit for him anymore, it was time for something new.

“The environment and the people that I was around just wasn’t the best for me, and I just wanted to find a place that was like a community and that I felt welcomed in,” said Green.

Green did end up being varsity eligible in both football and basketball.