Quartet of former LC Bird basketball players transfer
CHESTERFIELD, Va. (BVM) — Four historic members of the last LC Bird boys basketball program found themselves in the transfer portal during or after the 2020-21 college basketball season. Charles Falden, Rio Haskett, Pinky Whitney and Cameron Henry were each instrumental in helping the Skyhawks appear in the state title game in 2016 as well win the program’s first state championship in 2017. Each made their ways to play basketball at the college level and now each of them will be bringing their talents to new programs for the next college basketball season.
Falden may be the biggest name of the four to hit the transfer portal. After winning the 2016 Virginia High School League 5A Player of the Year at Bird and coming off the team’s state title appearance, Falden graduated a year prior to the Skyhawks state title triumph. He would join the team at Winthrop University following a year at Massanutten Military post high school.
Falden helped lead the Eagles to a 23-1 regular season record and a berth in the NCAA Tournament this past season to cap his four-year career at Winthrop. Falden averaged a career-high 10.1 points along with 3.2 rebounds and 0.6 assists. He announced that he would return to the state with a transfer to James Madison University as a graduate transfer on April 9.
https://twitter.com/live2hoop11/status/1380566888040820740
The next day, Whitney, who won the VHSL 5A Player of the Year for Bird the next season, announced that he would also transfer, leaving Delaware State University after four years to join the team at Hampton University. Whitney made the decision to transfer following a senior season where he put up career highs in points per game and rebounds per game with 10.2 and 3.8 respectively, earning third team All-Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference honors.
I would like to say that It’s a true blessing and honor to announce that I will be continuing my athletic and academic careers at THE HAMPTON UNIVERSITY 💙 110% Committed 🙏🏽 #HU🗣#LastRide#4️⃣’sss pic.twitter.com/Y1xM1oNOLm
— 4️⃣ (@Pinky_Wiley10) April 10, 2021
Perhaps playing in his role to transfer to Hampton was the earlier decision by Haskett. Haskett, who was a two-time first team 5A all-state honoree at Bird to go along with his state title, chose to transfer to Hampton from Harvard University in November following the Ivy League’s decision to opt-out of the 2020-21 season. In his final season at Harvard, Haskett played in all 29 games and had six starts. He averaged a career-high 6.2 points and 17.5 minutes while also grabbing 1.4 rebounds and finishing the year with a personal high 25 steals.
Ain’t nothing changed,
still a H in front of the U.Thank you to Coach Amaker, the staff, Harvard, and everyone who supported me through these years. This opportunity has changed my life and continues to open up doors for me and those around me.
LET’S BRIDGE THE GAP. #HUtoHU pic.twitter.com/3iY7jSRR4T— Spike (@riohaskett) November 21, 2020
Henry is the only player of the four to not transfer to a school in the state of Virginia. Instead, Henry, who played in only three seasons thanks to a redshirt freshman season, will transfer from Division II Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tenn. to Division I Indiana State in Terre Haute, Ind. Likely the biggest factor in this decision comes not from a lack of playing time or desire to jump to the DI level, but the fact that Henry’s coach during his time with the Railsplitters, Josh Schertz, was hired by the Sycamores following the season.
Our next new addition! Cameron Henry!#MarchOn pic.twitter.com/yYCWty3yEl
— Hoops Archive Account (@ISUHoopsArchive) April 7, 2021
Unsurprisingly, the news of the transfers hit LC Bird pretty quickly. The program was quick to acknowledge the moves and give shoutouts to some of the best players in Skyhawks history.
Bird Boys Navigated the Portal ! Congrats
@live2hoop11 @Pinky_Wiley10
@kingsayg @CamHenry35 https://t.co/k69yH1BY4s— LC Bird Basketball (@LC_Bird_Hoops) April 10, 2021
The boys themselves also recognized the significance of the moves and their excitement to bring even more attention to the legacy they built at LC Bird.
Bird boys 🐐’s https://t.co/1pt8VmmzYL
— Cam Henry (@CamHenry35) April 10, 2021
All these boys callin each other brothers… only the family in my eyes man we got each other 🥷🤞🏾 https://t.co/G8zeOCpnAo
— Spike (@riohaskett) April 10, 2021
https://twitter.com/live2hoop11/status/1380945434676453379
