PRESCOTT VALLEY — Graduating high school and moving on to college is always an amazing, yet difficult transition for most teenagers.

But when a student forgoes the second semester of senior year to get a jump on college life, and adult life thereafter, it is certainly unique.

And when a student athlete makes that decision, it can be even more unique, especially as a three-year letterwinner for a basketball team that made the 4A state semifinals a season ago.

James Giggey, a senior at Bradshaw Mountain High School, is doing just that.

For the 6-foot-4, 230-pound Bears forward however, the choice of getting a head start in college wasn’t made lightly, especially since many of his teammates have been together since sixth grade.

“That’s like my second family,” Giggey said.

But, with Arizona State University offering a full scholarship for the senior to play Division I college football, Giggey can’t wait to get started. And spring ball for the Sun Devils is just around the corner.

“It will put me ahead of most of the other recruits coming in after the fact,” Giggey said about leaving a semester early to get started. “I’ll basically be a sophomore experience as a freshman. I really want to get my way into that rotation.”

By "rotation" he means on the defensive line for the Sun Devils, who are scheduled to join the Big 12 next season.

Giggey, who graduates early, but will be back in May to walk with his classmates, is a solid basketball player for the Bears, averaging 5.6 points and 4.3 rebounds per game this season.

Bradshaw Mountain is 10-4 and have aspirations to hoist a 4A state championship trophy in February, so losing him isn’t going to be easy. But Bears coach Cain Atkinson didn’t hesitate to still welcome him with open arms this season.

“Going into the season, we knew that Giggey would be with us for a short time. We had a lot of conversations and ultimately it was up to the team on if they wanted James to be a part of it or not,” Atkinson said. “The type of character that Giggs is and brings to the program made that decision very easy.”

On the football field, Giggey is one of the top players defensively in the state, finishing third overall in tackles with 139 this past fall. He had 349 total during his four-year career with the Bears.

“I have worked for the dream every kid dreams of. Going Division I,” Giggey said. “I have the opportunity now and I just need to run with it and do everything in my power to make the best of it.”

Giggey said his favorite moment in high school sports was beating rival Prescott to get the trophy back and being able to keep it the past three years.

“That feeling is almost incomparable,” Giggey said.

Atkinson says getting the opportunity to coach “Giggs” has been great.

“I know how much football means to him, but for him to come out and help this basketball program the way he has the last year and half, [he is] an awesome young man and athlete,” Atkinson said.

Brian M. Bergner Jr. has covered professional, collegiate and high school sports for more than 20 years. Follow him on Twitter @AzPreps365Brian. Have a story idea? Email Brian at bbergner@azpreps365.com.