Basha, Horizon football standouts transferring before senior seasons

Senior defensive back Jeremiah Vessel announced Thursday night on social media that he is transferring to play for national powerhouse Las Vegas Bishop Gorman.

"First, I want to thank Basha for everything they have done," Vessel wrote on social media. "Forever a bear and never have lost. For my senior year, my family and I will be moving to Las Vegas, Nevada, and I will be attending Bishop Gorman High School."

Bishop Gorman has won 18 Nevada state championships and three national championships.

Last year, Bishop Gorman came to Chandler Hamilton, built a 24-7 lead, only to see it dissipate in the final minute in a 25-24 loss that might have been the most memorable high school game in the nation.

This is the second out-of-state move in the last year for Vessel, who moved in last summer from Louisiana.

Vessel, 5-foot-11, 185 pounds, helped the Bears go 10-0 for the first time in school history in the regular season and land a spot in the Open Division state playoffs. He had 47 tackles, two interceptions and a caused fumble for the Bears.

He would have been a big part of one of the most loaded teams in Arizona, one that still will contend for an Open state championship and a top-25 national ranking.

He is rated by The Arizona Republic in the Big 150 2023 class as the 11th-best prospect in Arizona with double-digit Division I football offers.

Basha coach Chris McDonald said he does not know why Vessel decided to leave Basha for Bishop Gorman, which plays a national schedule and will take on Hamilton at home early in the 2022 season.

"He was a pleasure to coach and we wish him nothing but the best for him and his family," McDonald said.

Meanwhile, 5A state champion Phoenix Horizon suffered a blow with 2023 running back Wesley Lambert announcing he is moving to Florida to play his senior season at Melbourne High School.

"Due to family circumstances out of my control I will be moving to Florida for the duration of the summer and my senior season," Lambert wrote on social media.

Lambert ran for 1,694 yards and 21 TDs, including 143 yards and a score in 33 carries in the 38-28 state title win over Salpointe Catholic.

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

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Basha, Horizon football standouts transferring before senior seasons