So much for elite boys basketball players staying around to stand next to the state’s Mr. Basketball award during state finals week each March this decade.

Ty Rodgers led Grand Blanc to the Division 1 state championship in 2021 before transferring to a prep school in Illinois for his senior year. Rodgers is now playing at Illinois.

Then, Darius Acuff led Detroit Cass Tech to the Division 1 state championship in ’23 before moving on to IMG Academy, where he just finished his senior season and is set to play at Arkansas come November.

Emoni Bates, who led Ypsilanti Lincoln to a Division 1 state title in 2019 and Fletcher Loyer (Purdue) of Clarkston also departed their respective schools to attend prep schools in recent years.

Now, it’s Carlos Medlock Jr.’s turn to leave his school, Wayne Memorial, and take his tremendous talent to a prep school.

Medlock, the son of former Eastern Michigan guard Carlos Medlock, has informed Wayne head coach Steve Brooks of his intention to leave and attend a prep school.

Medlock’s father told The News on Wednesday that Medlock will be playing next year at Link Academy in Branson, Missouri, which defeated nationally ranked La Lumiere (82-56), Montverde (40-39) and Sunrise Christian (43-42), also winning the inaugural Nike EYBL Scholastic Conference tournament championship while losing a close game to IMG Academy and Acuff, 73-69.

Medlock, a 6-foot point guard, put his name and school on the map this past winter, averaging 24.9 points, six rebounds and 4.8 assists, teaming up with Jaylohn Allen (17.7 points, 4.4 assists) to give Wayne (25-3) the top backcourt in the state on the way to a Division 1 state title game appearance, a loss to East Lansing.

Medlock and Allen were both expected to return for their senior year, giving Wayne a chance to make a return trip to Breslin to take care of unfinished business, but Medlock’s departure changes all of that.

“They talked to me and informed me they were leaving for a prep school; didn’t say where,” Brooks said of the Medlock family, adding that Carlos has offers from Murray State and Duquesne since the state finals. “It’s disappointing, because the thing about Carlos is I appreciated him more as a kid than a player.

“Whenever I hear about a kid transferring, it’s my assumption that he’s seeking more competition, high-profile games and teams from the state of Michigan can only travel a certain distance.”

Medlock also owns offers from UMass, Toledo and St. Bonaventure, along with a half dozen others.

So, what’s ahead for Wayne basketball?

“Our goals haven’t changed,” Brooks said. “We’ll (replace Medlock) by committee. We have a lot of good players who are ready to show what they can do.”

Junior Antwaun Williams will have to step up his game due to Medlock's departure, along with multiple other players.

Want to comment on this story? Become a subscriber today. Click here.