All-state Ferris forward transferring to Franklin

One of the state's top high-school boys basketball players plans to transfer from Class 4A champion Ferris of Spokane to Franklin for his senior season.

DeAngelo Casto, a 6-foot-8 all-state forward who averaged 14.8 points and 12.2 rebounds last season, is playing for Franklin this weekend in the Quaker Classic, a 32-team spring tournament that is not a Washington Interscholastic Activities Association event.

Casto scored 27 points to help Ferris beat Franklin 100-79 in the semifinals of the 4A state tournament in March.

His mother, Stacy, said Friday that the family is moving to Seattle.

"We should be here when school starts," she said.

She explained that she and her husband, Duane, have a family of 15 children, 12 of them adopted, including DeAngelo.

She said the family is moving from the Spokane area for a variety of reasons that include "cultural diversity over here that is really lacking over there." She noted that many of her children (including DeAngelo) are African-American.

She also said the move involves "personal reasons," including opportunities in her career in nursing.

"It's time for a move," she said.

Asked if Casto was recruited by Franklin, she said: "Absolutely not! Absolutely not!"

She said Franklin coach Jason Kerr was so surprised when she and DeAngelo showed up unannounced to visit Franklin "that he about had a heart attack."

She said it was "bittersweet" leaving Ferris because it was "an amazing team with great coaching." She said her son wasn't unhappy at Ferris.

This will be Casto's third high school. He played for two years at 1A Freeman, near Spokane.

Casto, one of the state's top college prospects, had 16 points and 12 rebounds in Ferris' 68-61 double-overtime win over Kentridge in the 4A title game, capping an undefeated season by the Saxons.

The addition of Casto gives Franklin two all-state candidates next season. Peyton Siva, who will be a junior, is among the state's best guards.

Craig Smith: 206-464-8279 or csmith@seattletimes.com