RECRUITING: Las Vegas High’s Bey to transfer, reclassify to class of 2017

Las Vegas High boys basketball player Tyler Bey, who was slated to be a senior, plans on reclassifying and transferring to Middlebrooks Academy (Calif.) for the upcoming school year.

The 6-foot-6-inch forward, who is ranked a three-star prospect by ESPN.com, will reclassify to the class of 2017 for academic reasons, according to his AAU coach.

“I don’t think the move is totally basketball related,” Las Vegas Knicks coach Lamar Bigby said. “It’s him just wanting to better his education. He is more excited for the opportunity to succeed in and out of the classroom. He wants a change of scenery and thinks it will be better for him.”

Bey, who averaged 17.0 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game last season, was the area’s No. 2 recruit in the class of 2016 according to ESPN.com behind Bishop Gorman center Zach Collins. Now he will look to raise his stock by playing an extra year at the prep level.

“It’s going to do wonders for him basketball-wise, for sure,” said Bigby, a former UNLV player. “Tyler can be as good as he wants to be. Some people call me crazy, but I think he’s in the mold of a Shawn Marion-type. If he ever figures out the mid-range shooting, he’s got the motor and athletic ability.”

Bey joins Desert Pines’ Greg Floyd and Trevon Abdullah — also 2017 prospects — on the Las Vegas Knicks this summer.