"He didn't have a bed (for me) so I was sleeping on a pile of clothes on the floor. Griles had taken the role of legal guardian for most of those players, the schools subsequent investigation found. Under the districts 50-step plan, coaches and other employeeswho allow transfer students to live with them or become their legal guardiansmust report that information in writing to their school principal and the superintendent. *N.J. lawmakers take steps to halt phony transcripts like ones used at Eastside. The students also talked about how, at a high-powered school, they might be in a distinct minority and be looked at as students who maybe didnt deserve to be there but got a break. 0:00. Now, the state wants answers as the district takes action. The injured boy is 16 years old. 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. A fight broke out during the Camden County Tournament championship game between Camden High School and Eastside High School. "Felix had problems in his household, and after that, that girl went from place to place," said a coach familiar with the events in Aquino's life that fall. WHEN/WHERE: Monday, 4:30 p.m., at No. Same goes for any attempt at blackmail. But how do you know? Eastside had been one of the favorites to win both county and state titles. But Aquino's living situation deteriorated soon after she was brought to Paterson, according to coaches and the school report. Those fortunes changed when a man in her neighborhood snapped photos of Aquino and sent them to the Paraguay Basketball Federation, which invited herto train alongside the country's finest players in the nation's capital. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Selwyn Rodriguez with Vaqueros de Bayamon in Puerto Rico. NJSIAA officials say they will take action in wake of NJ Advance Media's reporting. It is, for most players on this island, a dream come true. She had left Nigeria to play basketball and study at Evelyn Mack Academy in Charlotte, determined to earn a scholarship to an American college. "This is her cry for help.". In anticipation of a radio story for the Beat, Andrea went to work on her Roosevelt campus last week and asked students what they thought of the scandal. Now, the state is taking a closer look at how they got here. She said she had secured a student visa and Form I-20, which had been signed by officials at the North Carolina school. "Who's going to respect a coach like him? Search for New Jersey classmates, friends, family, and memories in one of the largest collections of Online Univeristy, College, Military, and High School Yearbook images and photos! A few minutes later, the emcee hummed a few bars from "The Final Countdown" as a basketball-shaped mascot with a cowboy hat and bushy moustache made its grand entrance. In an interview, Ugboaja said officials at Evelyn Mack demanded money for room and board for Ejiofor and he refused. For now, we are continuing to vet all of the information coming in and we hope to have additional information to report to our readers soon. Most found something much closer to a nightmare. Paterson school board President Oshin Castillo said the district has emphasized accountability among its staff members. News never stops. Two years later, a newspaper named him West Virginia's Player of the Year -- his father proudly holds up the story for all to see. This decision was announced in an email that was sent to our community last night. Days after a report detailed that six overseas basketball players were living with a coach, a number of pressing issues remained. Faculty members don't believe it and told KIRO 7 high school Principal Justyna King worked to improve the culture at the school, increased diversity and cared about academics for all students. *15 questions we still want answered after taxpayer-funded special report. 1:07. 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. According to our sources, most of the initial speculation has centered around Eastside High School in Taylors, S.C. and perhaps one other nearby school in the South Carolina government-run system. Here's why, This is just tip of iceberg, senator says in demanding full probe, Eastside girls team out of states, multiple suspensions announced, Troubling new questions, including concerns of human trafficking, broadside Eastside boys and girls programs, Season's over: Eastside boys pull out of Passaic County Tournament, The (many!) All four ended up in Paterson, playing for the powerhouse teams at Eastside High School, . coach blew up. Gregory Cooper, the Eastside athletic director cut loose, says he was an 'easy target' and made a scapegoat. "Yesterday we were made aware of an inappropriate post on social media made by students at Eastside High School," Davis told The Covington News. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. PATERSON A security guard at Eastside High School has been removed from his job after allegations surfaced this week about "inappropriate contact" between him and a student, officials said. See the documents. Here's why. According to our sources, most of the initial speculation has centered around Eastside High Schoolin Taylors, S.C. - and perhaps one other nearby school in the South Carolina government-run. Maybe that will ease his regrets. "When I asked why I wasn't going to North Carolina, I was told that I didn't have a ready host family," Ejiofor said in a conversation over social media. Furthermore, we have argued (controversially) that school officials caught having sex with students who have attained the age of consent should not be charged criminally. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. The school board president at the time, Chris Irving, had said Johnson was being forced to retire as punishment. It took3teachers who risked everything tohelp the final 2 African players escape the mess at Eastside High. The districts status update on the plan says none of its employees reported taking transfer students into their homes or becoming their guardians. Rodriguez left Puerto Rico in 2011, chasing the promises of a coach from New Jersey -- his own apartment, a spot on an elite high school team and a Division 1 scholarship. The kinds of people their own parents work for. Good question. ", To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that "I ended up in Jersey.". The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association said in a statement Friday it approved the . The first one, a senior named Luis, knew the name of the cheating scandals mastermind. The report painted a grim picture of an emotionally distressed and helpless teenager, thousands of miles from home. That's where Griles, he said, discovered him and recruited him to New Jersey. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. 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 . During the meeting the other co-chair resigned and the board of trustees removed Father William Heric as the interim president. ", "The administrative changes were intended to support the board's vision for the school's future. "The post included a video with offensive content that will not be tolerated. State Sen. Richard Codey (D-Essex) called on Attorney General Christopher Porrino to investigate Paterson Eastside. "'An outstanding educator': Paterson Eastside High School principal dies," by The Paterson Press' Joe Malinconico: "Gerald Glisson, who was principal of Paterson's Eastside High . The high and mighty went as low as they could go, and it did not play well in Boyle Heights. He left Paterson midway through the season and returned to Puerto Rico. Ortiz, an undersized point guard with electric ball-handling skills, said no journey was too long to dish on Juan Griles. COVINGTON, Ga. - Students at Eastside High School are under fire after a social media post went viral showing discriminatory and racial remarks and actions. 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. The players came to Paterson Eastside from Nigeria, Paraguay and Puerto Rico in search of their own hoops dream. All are in compliance, wrote the monitor, Gary Farishian. undefined Paterson Eastside High School basketball scandal From news that six overseas players were living with the boys coach to the discovery of an international pipeline funneling. A pipeline of talented players to New Jersey is alive and well, but at times things can go awry with the process, as evidence by the recent scandal at Paterson Eastside. The Camden City School District said Friday that both teams have been withdrawn from the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) state tournament. "I am innocent and didn't know any better," Ejiofor said. "We would come back from the theater or wherever and we found that woman on the ground many times," Esteban said. Ortiz found himself leaving practice many nights in tears, wondering why this coach brought him to New Jersey if he didn't let him step onto the court. The girls parents are charged with paying $500,000 to get her and her sister admitted under the guise that they were recruits for Trojan crew. She filed for medical leave in spring 2017 and has been on paid leave since then. "I used to play great players that are already in the NBA. The deputy in question is a family friend of both Rick and Jennifer Mathews (below), our sources say. *The (many!) Additionally, our news outlet has been sharply critical in the past of law enforcement investigations conducted into allegedly lewd and lascivious conduct. Andrea Galdmez apologized for arriving a few minutes late. We have now invited the administrators and faculty to rejoin us on the first day of school. Thirteen faculty members quit in protest, most of them teachers. We are proud that the school holds such an important place in our community, and we look forward to working with everyone and continuing to serve our mission." Selwyn and Esteban added they rarely left that room because they feared what was happening downstairs. Steve Lopez is a California native who has been a Los Angeles Times columnist since 2001. They had to be heard. What sort of proximity are we talking about? It is not immediately clear, although some light was recently shed on the case when Greenville, S.C. insurance marketing executiveRick Mathewsissued a statement related to his recent divorce fromJennifer Mathews who runs a yoga and pilates studio in Greenville. When the member refused to pay his monthly dues, his wife was reportedly provided with video evidence of her husbands infidelity. District officials have not yet announced whether he will return to that role. According to our sources, members of this secret club would pay an estimated $5,000 to $10,000 a month to enjoy its amenities including youthful sex partners provided from nearby high schools. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. I could have done something to help that kid," Olson continued. She appears to be living in the home owned by Shirley Jordan where the Nigerian players also stayed; NJ Advance Media observed Aquino leave the home and head to school the morning of March 21. NJ man had guns, ammo, fake marshal ID at airport: FBI, 'Havana syndrome' 'unlikely' caused by foreign adversary: US intel, Eli Lilly cuts insulin prices up to 70% amid pressure to slash costs. Since our first story on Thornblade ran last week, we have been bombarded with tips related to these various allegations. She planned to study pharmacology at Vanderbilt. A basketball powerhouse is under fire after packing its roster from overseas, leaving players to live with their coach. Some of these Disciples are members at the Thornblade club, we are told. *NJSIAA demands 'full accounting' from hoops power with several overseas players. Father Heric will go back to being the school chaplain. Olivia Teforlack, a junior at Francisco Bravo Medical Magnet who wants to go to a University of California campus, said the pressures of high school and the college admission process were overwhelming enough without having to worry about reverse discrimination for the privileged. They already have money and they have resources, and they still had to do these things to get into college? asked Andrea, who gets up early to catch a 6 a.m. bus to school, gets home after dinnertime and still has a few hours of homework each night. NJ Advance Media staff writer Matt Stypulkoski contributed to this report. Paterson Eastside High's boys basketball team has been infused with talented players from Puerto Rico and Nigeria. 36-0 vote holds punishment for teams and former boys coach Juan Griles. Griles, the Rodriguezes said, approached the family after Selwyn led Puerto Rico to the Under-17 championship in a 2011 Central America tournament. The connection was facilitated by Henry Ugboaja, the director of a prominent camp in Nigeria. But even after winning the MVP at a holiday tournament, Griles ignored him. A Q and A about its creation, Decades later, 'Uncle Sam' billboard still sparks debate, VIDEO: President Trump Says 'Blame on Both Sides, I Wait for Facts', Woman loses $29K after being targeted by banking scam with victims in 9 states, Driver killed after car goes off overpass in Georgetown, Puyallup teen considered suicide after school beating, Cheerleader performs solo after team quits before state championships, Kent police investigating kidnapping after car stolen with 2 kids inside.