Jerry Triplett III joins childhood friends at 21st Century, aims for state title

The 6-foot-2 guard/forward transferred from Andrean to play with star senior Terrence Hayes Jr. and others he grew up with.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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This season has been a homecoming of sorts for 21st Century senior Jerry Triplett III, who transferred from Andrean last spring. Triplett grew up with many of his current teammates, including star senior guard Terrence Hayes Jr., and has embraced his role on the talented and experienced Cougars squad that is aiming to win the Class 2A state title.

Why it matters

Triplett's transfer to 21st Century reunites him with childhood friends and allows him to play a key role on a team with state title aspirations. The Cougars have been a powerhouse in recent years, winning nine sectional titles and five regional titles in the last 10 seasons.

The details

Triplett, a 6-foot-2 guard/forward, was averaging 10.6 points and a team-high 7.0 rebounds before a recent game. He has brought energy, physicality, and an unselfish team-first mentality to the Cougars, who have also welcomed back 6-10 senior center Me'Trell Harbin and 6-8 junior forward/center Kayleb Young from injuries. Triplett says he has become more physical and mature through the intense practices with his talented teammates.

  • Triplett transferred from Andrean to 21st Century last spring.
  • The Cougars handed Class 4A power Crown Point its only loss this season.

The players

Jerry Triplett III

A 6-foot-2 senior guard/forward who transferred from Andrean to 21st Century this season.

Terrence Hayes Jr.

A senior guard and Missouri State recruit who is one of the top players in the state.

Me'Trell Harbin

A 6-10 senior center who transferred to 21st Century after attending Portage, Bishop Noll, and Don Bosco.

Kayleb Young

A 6-8 junior forward/center who returned to the team after suffering a broken hand.

Quincy Taylor

The 21st Century head coach who took over during the season.

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What they’re saying

“He's a dawg. He's a flat-out dawg. His will is crazy. He separates himself just by how hard he plays. He'll get every rebound — every rebound. On defense, he's very talkative. He's just a great kid. He brings a lot of energy to the team that we need.”

— Terrence Hayes Jr., Missouri State recruit (Chicago Tribune)

“He's been a great addition to our team. He's brought a different kind of energy. He works hard every single day in no matter what he does, when it comes to runs, when it comes to weightlifting. He sets the tone. He's motivated a lot of guys to challenge themselves and go a little bit further and go a little bit harder, which ultimately helps us out on the floor.”

— Quincy Taylor, 21st Century head coach (Chicago Tribune)

What’s next

The Cougars, who have handed Class 4A power Crown Point its only loss this season, are seeking their first state championship in school history.

The takeaway

Triplett's transfer to 21st Century has reunited him with childhood friends and allowed him to embrace a key role on a talented and experienced team with state title aspirations. His energy, physicality, and unselfish play have helped elevate the Cougars, who are aiming to make history by winning their first state championship.