Rome City Schools is excited to announce the hiring of Shaquan Cantrell as the new head boys basketball coach at Rome High School. Cantrell brings a combination of high-level playing experience, player development expertise, and successful coaching experience to the Wolves basketball program.
Cantrell has quickly built an impressive coaching resume at the high school level. He served as a community coach at Cherokee Bluff High School before moving to Archer High School as the JV head coach and varsity assistant coach. Most recently, he has been part of the Gainesville High School boys basketball staff, serving as varsity assistant coach, head of player development, and strength and conditioning coordinator.
During his time at Gainesville, the program experienced tremendous success, including back-to-back region championships, a Final Four appearance, a top-25 national ranking by MaxPreps and USA Today, and a 30-1 record during the 2025-2026 season. Cantrell also stepped in as acting head coach during part of the season and led the team to a 7-0 start.
“I’m excited to get in here and get to work,” Cantrell said. “I’ve had high-level playing experience and high-level coaching experience, so I look to bring that consistency and determination to Rome High School boys basketball and continue the Rome culture of producing high-level athletes and even better young men on and off the court.”
Cantrell has experienced success at every stage of his career. As a standout player at Gainesville High School, he helped lead the Red Elephants to the 2013 GHSA State Championship game while earning First Team All-State honors and Region Player of the Year recognition. He finished his high school career with 1,436 points and 433 rebounds.
Cantrell continued his career at the University of North Georgia. A four-year starter, he scored 1,477 career points and ranks as the third-leading scorer in school history while earning multiple Peach Belt Conference honors.
Following college, Cantrell played professionally overseas in Germany and in Mexico from 2018 through 2021. During the 2018-2019 season with the Noerdlingen Giants in Germany, Cantrell led the league in scoring at 28 points per game and helped guide the team to a 19-2 record and a second-place finish.
In addition to team success, Cantrell has helped develop numerous collegiate basketball players through his coaching and training programs.
When asked what fans can expect to see from his teams, Cantrell doesn’t hesitate.
“Tough, hard-nosed players,” Cantrell said. “They’re going to be putting the work in. It’s going to be a fun environment built on teamwork, sacrifice and team play. We want the community behind us and supporting these kids for their hard work.”