SANTA CRUZ >> For the second time in as many years, a boys basketball star from Santa Cruz High’s 2024 CIF Division III state finalist team has transferred to San Francisco powerhouse Archbishop Riordan for his senior season.

DeMarco Hunter, the Santa Cruz Coast Athletic League co-MVP with Aptos’ Isaiah Ackerman and Cal-Hi Sports’ 2025 State D-IV Player of the Year despite the Cardinals falling in the NorCal title game, has been playing for Riordan’s AAU team this summer, when he’s not competing for the Oakland Soldiers in the prestigious Nike Elite Youth Basketball League (EYBL).

The high-flying, 6-foot-6 guard/forward joins a Crusaders program that graduated seven seniors from its ’25 team (29-2, 14-0), which won the West Catholic Athletic League and Central Coast Section Open Division titles in such convincing fashion that one Bay Area media outlet suggested it might be the greatest team in section history. The Crusaders lost 80-60 to Roosevelt of Eastvale 80-60 in the CIF Open Division state final at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento on March 15.

Two of Hunter’s Soldiers teammates, 6-4 guard Andrew Hilman and 6-9 forward JP Pihtovs, are returning talents for Riordan and factored into his decision to transfer.

Hunter was unavailable for comment, but his father, Demetreus, confirmed that his son is transferring. Demetreus said his son made the decision after competing with Riordan’s AAU team against some of the nation’s best talent at the Section Seven showcase in Arizona earlier this month.

“He told me, ‘If I want to get better and compete at the next level, these are the type of guys I need to be competing against. I need to get better,’ ” said Demetreus, a Santa Cruz alum. “It was his decision. I’m proud of him for the maturity he showed in making it. He wants to be pushed every day for his skill development.”

Hunter, who recently signed with Prodigy Sports Group in an effort to increase his NIL profile, already has two offers from NCAA Division I programs, University of Nevada, Reno, and Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo.

Demetreus said there’s another 10-20 now showing interest after his son’s performances this summer.

Hunter recorded a whopping 30 double-doubles in 33 games for Santa Cruz (21-12, 8-2) this season. He averaged 25.5 points, 12.3 rebounds and 4.3 blocks.

Despite forward Kirby Seals’ departure to Riordan last summer, Hunter led the Cardinals to the CCS D-III title this winter after they finished in second place in the league. After securing the school’s first section title in 10 years, the Cardinals advanced to the CIF NorCal Regional final for a second straight season.

Hunter also helped Santa Cruz reach the CIF D-III state championship game as a sophomore.

Hunter is living in student housing in San Francisco from Monday through Thursday while training with Riordan’s AAU team. Demetreus is unsure of where his son will be staying or if he’ll be commuting once school begins, and declined to discuss any financial aspects of the decision.

While Hunter’s decision is likely being lauded by folks at Riordan, including head coach Joey Curtin and his staff and teammates, news wasn’t well received by Santa Cruz’s staff.

Demetreus recently informed Cardinals head coach Lawan Milhouse of Hunter’s transfer, which prompted Milhouse to reply, “You bit the apple.”

Milhouse’s mood has changed from shocked to infuriated. He was upset that Hunter didn’t tell him the news himself, especially after telling him and the Cardinals in May, when Milhouse was finalizing his ’25-26 schedule, that he returning for his senior season.

“He (figuratively speaking) spit in the face of me and my coaches,” Milhouse said. “I feel disrespected. One and a half months ago, he told me he was staying. It is what it is, but this has left a very sour taste. He, basically, told us we didn’t do anything for him in three years at Santa Cruz.”

Demetreus said he and Hunter have the utmost respect for Milhouse and assistant coach Rob Shipstead, “They taught him everything he knows.”

The Hunters still plan to attend Santa Cruz basketball games. Their youngest son, Malik, is a sophomore wing on the junior-varsity team.