NJ Advance Media staff writer Matt Stypulkoski contributed to this report. *Troubling new questions, including concerns of human trafficking, broadside Eastside boys and girls programs. We have an open microphone policy here at FITSNews! These financial allegations have since receivedmainstream media coveragecourtesy ofThe Greenville News. That the athletic directors job.. We have now invited the administrators and faculty to rejoin us on the first day of school. According to videos shared on social media, a male student can be seen escorting a female student with hands behind her back. (Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com). unanswered questions in the Paterson basketball scandal, How scandal of overseas hoops players living with H.S. Im taking three or four. Well good for you, but I dont want to die, said Olivia, who joins clubs and is on the cheer squad to make her college application more appealing. They had SAT preps and the older girl was a senior in high school, and theyd use her old tests to study, and they would hire private tutors for them.. A video posted on social media shows fans, players and coaches rushing the court. Christine Kelley, an adult advisor to the Beat which operates under the auspices of the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism said shed been on the job eight years and had never seen students deal with more pressure. All rights reserved (About Us). Also, Evans had said the district would seek tenure charges against Griles in an effort to oust him from his teaching position at Eastside. A fight broke out during the Camden County Tournament championship game between Camden High School and Eastside High School. But there he was Wednesday in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, at a massive Goya factory. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Phone 770-784-2920 | Fax 770-784-2918. Ortiz said he regrets not speaking up and challenging Griles or others at the school. "And I said, 'Yes!'. According to videos shared on. He was benched for a first-round state playoff game, and the reason seemed almost too cruel to believe. The parents of an Eastside High School student accused a former tennis coach of having sexually inappropriate conversations with their teenage son on a cellphone he secretly gave the . "He didn't have a bed (for me) so I was sleeping on a pile of clothes on the floor. *How scandal of overseas hoops players living with H.S. In a practice last week with the Vaqueros, Selwyn finished every drill with a flourish. Often, the players lived with coaches or other school employees. EHS ASB. Directions on submission are attached. But criminally charged? Thanks to our long history of educational excellence and deeply felt sense of mission, any change at Eastside Catholic invites high interest from our current and alumnae community. (Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com). Authorities have arrested an unidentified 15-year-old in connection with the stabbing of two Paterson students at Eastside High School on Friday afternoon, which left one of the victims dead . When I think about even if it was just 50 students whose parents cheated for them, those 50 spots could have actually gone to someone who gained those positions.. Editor's note: The following story contains profane language and disturbing content. In short, the district and the students fully understand the infractions that took place at last night's game.The students involved in the incident from both schools have had a tremendous season and have worked incredibly hard to be successful. 3 Ghosts (24-5 . I used to play against them and perform good. Four players from three continents -- all bound by the same dream and pitch: Leave your friends and family behind, travel thousands of miles and use basketball to find a better life. Absolutely. - Karen Hatch, Eastside Catholic, Marketing and Communications Director. In an interview, Ugboaja said officials at Evelyn Mack demanded money for room and board for Ejiofor and he refused. Got a technical question or a glitch to report? "She's a mature, strong kid and she's hanging in there," Vanderbilt head coach Stephanie Smith said earlier this year. One student, Bravo junior Andy Garcia, hadnt said much during the discussion. On Saturday morning at the Boyle Heights Beat, a student-run journalism operation, the hot topic was the college entrance cheating scandal and how . Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Juan Griles,coach of the powerhouse boys basketball team, was among those fired by the Board of Education. The veterans still call him "the rookie," but Selwyn hopes it'll be "Rookie of the Year" when the season ends. Coaches from the powerhouse Paterson Eastside's boys basketball team served as legal guardians to six playersand had them living in their homes. Both the Paterson Eastside High boys and girls basketball teams have seen an influx of international players enter their programs, raising concerns over immigration statuses. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. All rights reserved. But the club has declined to comment on the rest of the story . Thanks To Our Sponsors. 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"I would have been able to pull names out of a hat pretty quick to be able to get her in the right direction. So far, there has been no official acknowledgement of the seismic, sexually charged side of this investigation by anyone in law enforcement. The board of trustees met Thursday evening to discuss the possibility of offering the principals their jobs back and rehiring the teachers who resigned. The game was held at Cherry Hill East High School, a neutral site for both teams. *African players are flocking to top N.J. basketball teams. There was no disagreement on that point, or on another one: I was disappointed, but I was not surprised, said Carol Martnez, a Roosevelt senior who has been accepted by two California State University schools and Loyola University New Orleans but is hoping to get into UCLA, USC, UC Santa Barbara or Wesleyan. We have also rescheduled our back-to-school dates to allow us to refocus on the classroom and prepare adequately. Same goes for any attempt at blackmail. As we previously reported, Thornblade club officials have acknowledged the existence ofserious financial irregularitiesrelated to the operations of the facility including alleged credit card fraud that was first reported earlier this year to the Greenville countysheriffs office. "A coach is supposed to be like another father to you," Ortiz said. *Hoops power packs roster from overseas; state questions safety of teens living with coach. Read more: http://nj-ne.ws/lHtJWSq. Rodriguez had done well in the classroom and earned a scholarship offer to play volleyball at Purdue University. More specifically, we have been informed that investigators are looking to question a former athletics coach at Eastside over his alleged proximity to some of the central figures in this unspooling drama. Gregory Cooper, the Eastside athletic director cut loose, says he was an 'easy target' and made a scapegoat. "I would just meet her at the gym and work out from there and take her to her game if need be. Documents obtained by NJ Advance Mediashow discourse within the district as scandal barreled out of control. 701. Copyright 2023 WPVI-TV. I didn't really get into her family situation or where she was staying.". And Blessing Ejioforlanded in the U.S. on the fast track to college, via Nigeria, but her dreams were crushed by the adults she trusted most. Fired coach wonders: How did I become guardian for 7-foot Nigerian player? Those tests were part of a 50-step corrective action plan implemented by Paterson Public Schools in the aftermath of the scandal that resulted in Eastsides basketball teams being banned from this years state tournament as well as the dismissals and suspensions of several athletic department staff members. What sort of proximity are we talking about? The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, or NJSIAA, recruiting sanctions against Eastside stemmed from a series of stories by the Star-Ledger exposing the fact that six players from Puerto Rico and Nigeria were living at Griles Paterson condominium. Superintendent Katrina McCombs released the following statement on Friday afternoon: In the Camden City School District, we pride ourselves on sculpting scholar-athletes and students that understand the importance of character and integrity. Eastside High School. Off the court, Ejiofor said she lived in a home on East 22nd Street owned by Shirley Jordan, whose daughter, Natalie, is a district teacher and an Eastside track coach. Aquino needed to get to the U.S., where she could develop her game, earn a college scholarship and potentially play professionally. Or an issue youd like to address proactively? After starting high school that spring, Aquino, who now stands 6-9, joined the powerhouse New Jersey Sparks AAU program. The injured boy is 16 years old. In January, the NJSIAA representative assigned to monitor Patersons athletics program sent the district a letter saying he had checked the basketball roster against eligibility lists and transfer records. "It was like he offered me heaven," Ortiz said. *School forged transcripts in Eastside scandal. Stay tuned we will continue doing our best to sift through the information we are provided related to all of these scandals. It didn't take long to realize the living situation wouldn't match the promises. F: contact@email.org Get Directions. Marlene Gamas, left, and advisor Christine Kelley brainstorm at Boyle Heights Beat for a story about the college admissions scandal. Griles, as has been the case since NJ Advance Media broke the story two months ago, did not return multiple calls for comment. Donald Trump Teases Delay Of 2020 Election, Internet Goes Bonkers, SC Teen Honor Student Falsely Accused Of Attempted Murder In Mall Shooting, Lawsuit Says, SC Vocational Rehab Scandal: Report Issued, Clemson Universitys Office Of Planned Giving Is Living In An Alternative Reality Right Now, South Carolina Insurance Fraud Sting: 18 Charged, LIVE FEED Murdaugh Murders Trial: Day Twenty-Seven, South Carolina Freedom Caucus Files Lawsuit, Murdaugh Murders Trial: Attorney General Stands And Delivers. Agents of the South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) could soon be called upon to join an investigation into a myriad of allegations involving the exclusive Thornblade neighborhood and its scandal-scarredcountry club, multiple law enforcement and prosecutorial sources tell this news outlet. Additionally, our news outlet has been sharply critical in the past of law enforcement investigations conducted into allegedly lewd and lascivious conduct. *NJSIAA announces new hearings to deal with Eastside fallout. The officials at the post office insisted it was left in a safe place. "He made a lot of promises about the future, about getting Selwyn to a university, about getting him to Division 1," Selwyn's father, Edwin, said. There are also blackmail allegations linked to the rumored prostitution/ sex ring. "The post included a video with offensive content that will not be tolerated. Unfortunately, the timing was poorly chosen, because it happened just a few weeks before school. *Ugly accusations tearthrough highest levels of school. 2022-2023 School Year Calendar. Days after a report detailed that six overseas basketball players were living with a coach, a number of pressing issues remained. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. This sounds crazy, but if I have to fly all the way back to (New Jersey), I will.". On Tuesday, New Jersey's governing body for high school sports levied an unprecedented level of sanctions against the Eastside boys and girls basketball programs, including a two-year state. For example, we reported earlier this week that HSI agents have been asking questions about Brian Gem Garrison - a former adjunct tennis coach at Eastside High School in Taylors, S.C. who was . Seattle Times staff reporter A Seattle high school teacher is accused of repeatedly having sex with a 16-year-old student, who reported their encounters to school officials and police last. Shes hoping for a scholarship to pay her way. We are not taking away any of the prior successes they have had this year, but we want them to know their actions have consequences.That said, even though we will be making this a growth opportunity for our students, we will also continue to contest the unfounded allegations being investigated by the NJSIAA. During the meeting the other co-chair resigned and the board of trustees removed Father William Heric as the interim president. And that consensual sex acts between individuals of consenting age are, well, consensual.. ", "As I'm sure you can understand, I am not able to provide specific personnel details. But even after winning the MVP at a holiday tournament, Griles ignored him. Aquino made it to the U.S. after a Paterson resident named Felix Ayala discovered her playing on ESPN, according to an internal school report obtained by NJ Advance Media. 2:14. Things have been eerily quiet in the South Carolina Upstate over the last few weeks as it relates to the Thornblade saga a host of alleged scandals centered around an upscale neighborhood and exclusive golf club located in the suburbs of Greenville, S.C. And quiet is just how the wealthy, influential local citizens at the heart of these scandals hope things will stay . NJSIAA officials say they will take action in wake of NJ Advance Media's reporting. He has also written three novels and two column collections. No one was seriously injured in the melee. That trust has cost her a scholarship to Vanderbilt and forced her back to Africa, where she remains a prisoner of immigration rules. *Broken promises and disposable players: The remarkable story how Eastside coaches lured foreign players. Find NJ.com on Facebook. But there are far more serious allegations being probed by agents of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)s special investigations unit including the alleged activities of a group of men who apparently refer to themselves as The Disciples.. coach blew up, NJSIAA demands 'full accounting' from hoops power with several overseas players, School suspends hoops coach who had 6 overseas players living with him. All Rights Reserved. Upon learning of this fact, we separated and I filed for divorce in July., Mathews added that he was aware that there is an investigation being conducted and that while he was not a suspect in any illegal activity, I am cooperating fully with law enforcement and will continue to do so.. She could develop her game if need be AAU program the reason seemed almost too cruel to believe to... Be like another father to you, '' Ortiz said refocus on the first day of.. 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