Nazareth forward George Kiernan enrolls at Hinsdale Central

Hinsdale Central’s chances of repeating as West Suburban Silver champion just got better.

Nazareth junior forward George Kiernan transferred to Hinsdale Central in August and is expected to join the Devils when preseason practice begins Nov. 11.

The 6-foot-7 Kiernan is the second big man to leave Nazareth after last season, following 7-foot junior Tyler Jackson’s decision to attend a prep school in Vermont. Kiernan played at Hinsdale Middle School with varsity newcomers Jordan Bradshaw, Grant Hutcherson and Neven Mulc. He played over the summer with Chicago LockDown with Hinsdale Central’s Matt Rafferty, a 6-8 Division I prospect, Hutcherson and Mulc.

Kiernan, a Hinsdale resident, did not work out last summer at Hinsdale Central and has attended open gym dates during the fall.

“I decided to transfer around August, probably about one week before school started. It was around Aug. 25,” Kiernan said. “It has been in the works for a while. I thought about doing it after my freshman year. I realized that after my sophomore year was the best time to go.”

The combination of Rafferty and Kiernan will help compensate for the loss of four seniors due to graduation. According to 247sports.com, Rafferty has received offers from Illinois-Chicago, Loyola, Northern Illinois and Toledo.

“I think Matt and I will have a great season after playing with each other for three years (at LockDown),” Kiernan said. “We know each other’s game really well.”

Three regulars from last year’s team that finished 18-7, 11-1 — Ian Bunting, Chase Hamilton and Jacob White — played for the Red Devils’ football team, whose season ended Saturday with a 42-14 loss to Oswego 42-14 in the first round of the Class 8A playoffs.

“I’m pretty excited for the first official practice next week,” Kiernan said.