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Erie High basketball star Marquell Darnell to play senior season at Keystone Academy

josh reilly, erie times-news
·4 min read

Two-sport Division I prospect Marquell Darnell has transferred from the Erie High basketball program to Keystone Athletic Academy for his senior season.

Darnell recently finished his high school football career with the Royals and said Thursday he will remain in classes at Erie High through the rest of his senior year.

The 6-foot 8-inch forward said it was a tough decision to leave the Royals' basketball team for the Erie-based Keystone program.

Marquell Darnell, Erie
Marquell Darnell, Erie

"The hardest part of my decision was obviously leaving the coaching staff (at Erie High) and not being able to play with my buddies," Darnell said Thursday. "It's not going to be the same playing on the court with a different team, but I've met with a couple of my new teammates, and I'm excited to work with them and see what happens in the future."

Keystone Athletic Academy is a first-year college-preparatory boarding and high school program that was unveiled in September. The program is not a member of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association, so it does not fall under PIAA jurisdiction. The academy's website describes the program as a "national high school team (that) will compete independently against other high-caliber Prep and National High School Programs."

Keystone Academy partners with Erie First Christian Academy for its academic program. Home games are played at either Gannon University's Hammermill Center or the Laura Guncheon Gymnasium.

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The Kings are coached by Shannon Pullium, the former Strong Vincent High School head coach who has also recently served as an assistant at Gannon University and a head coach at Mercyhurst North East.

Keystone Academy Chairman Cory Coleman said that Darnell's decision to join the Kings involves the organization's goal of placing players with major-college programs.

Darnell saw attention from NCAA Division I basketball programs increase over the summer during his time with Wildcat Select, a high-level AAU team with players from Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia.

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"We really want to provide the opportunity for these athletes on the next level," Coleman said. "Marquell's basketball recruiting picked up over the summertime. Coming to Keystone really gives him a chance to prepare to play at a high mid-major collegiate level."

Erie High School junior Marquell Darnell, right, blocks a shot by McDowell senior Jackson Hower during the District 10 Class 6A basketball championship on March 10, 2021, in Erie.
Erie High School junior Marquell Darnell, right, blocks a shot by McDowell senior Jackson Hower during the District 10 Class 6A basketball championship on March 10, 2021, in Erie.

Darnell practiced with his new teammates at Keystone on Thursday. The team was scheduled to play in the Kiski Tip-Off Showcase on Friday evening. The Kings, who won their inaugural game on Nov. 3, had a 4-2 record going into Friday's game.

Darnell was a District 10 All-Star as a junior with Erie High when he led the Royals to a 19-4 record, a share of the Region 6 title and a District 10 Class 6A championship. Darnell averaged 12.2 points per game and he specialized in the power dunk while giving the Royals a strong defensive presence inside.

Coleman said that the arrival of Darnell will provide the Kings more physicality inside.

"He can be a force that we currently don't have," Coleman said. "A lot of our big guys are finesse guys. He brings brute force and has an impeccable skill for rebounding the ball."

Erie High's Marquell Darnell dunks against Cathedral Prep on Feb. 9, 2021 in the District 10, Region 6 game at Erie High School.
Erie High's Marquell Darnell dunks against Cathedral Prep on Feb. 9, 2021 in the District 10, Region 6 game at Erie High School.

Coleman said that officials at Keystone Academy will be pushing Darnell to maintain his academics.

"The only difference is based on what's at stake," said Coleman. "The stakeholders are really going to be pressing him. They want him to be academically eligible once he selects his college.

"It really doesn't matter where Marquell plays. He's an athlete. Schools will find him. I think he wants to be around guys that are going to make him better and play on a bigger platform in order to refine his skills."

Erie High basketball coach Tom Koval could not be reached for comment after multiple attempts by the Times-News.

Cathedral Prep's Khali Horton shoots over Erie High's Marquell Darnell on Feb. 9, 2021 in the District 10, Region 6 game at Erie High School.
Cathedral Prep's Khali Horton shoots over Erie High's Marquell Darnell on Feb. 9, 2021 in the District 10, Region 6 game at Erie High School.

Horton transfers: Cathedral Prep basketball star Khali Horton to transfer to charter school in South Carolina

Darnell is the second high-profile player to transfer from an Erie high school basketball program during the offseason. Cathedral Prep's all-state junior forward, Khali Horton, announced in September that he was transferring to Legacy Early College in South Carolina. Horton, a 6-foot 7-inch forward, was named first-team all-state after leading Prep to a PIAA Class 5A title in March.

Another former Cathedral Prep player, Dellquan Warren, is on the Kings' roster in 2021-22 after playing for S.P.I.R.E. in Ohio last season.

Contact Josh Reilly at jreilly@timesnews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ETNreilly.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie High's Darnell to play senior basketball season at Keystone Academy