All rights reserved. She lacked spending money, health insurance, winter supplies and even women's sanitary items, the report and other sources said. All rights reserved (About Us). They said they came because Juan Griles, the basketball coach at Eastside, sold a future that this working-class family from Caugas could not resist. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. The Eastside basketball scandal was exposed in news stories published in the Star-Ledger. Thornblade Saga: Could SLED Join Investigation? 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. The college admissions cheating scandal is roiling some of Southern California's most elite prep schools, . *Hoops power packs roster from overseas; state questions safety of teens living with coach. Fired coach wonders: How did I become guardian for 7-foot Nigerian player? Since our first story on Thornblade ran last week, we have been bombarded with tips related to these various allegations. Some of the Sparks' coaches also are on the Eastside girls staff. North 1, Group 4: Eastside. "Nobody wanted to spend the money once she got here. Ayala promised to be the point of contact and to "make sure Andrea has everything that she needs," the report said. Also, Evans had said the district would seek tenure charges against Griles in an effort to oust him from his teaching position at Eastside. In her resignation letter teacher Lisa Abraham wrote, "Justyna stands up for each, individual student. Should they lose their jobs? "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. Steve Lopez is a California native who has been a Los Angeles Times columnist since 2001. In April 2015, the teenager moved to New Jersey, using a visa issued for a New York-based private school, the document said. HSI agents have also reportedly been asking questions aboutBrian Gem Garrison a former adjunct tennis coach atEastside High Schoolin Taylors, S.C. who was arrested and charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor last spring. 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.. Andrea Aquino began her journey in Paraguay. Our district prepared and addressed each step of the Corrective Action Plan,and as a result of our follow-up on each area, we have received several positive reports from the NJSIAA monitor regarding our current 2017-18 athletic programs, said Terry Corallo, the district spokeswoman. "I am innocent and didn't know any better," Ejiofor said. Home. Submit your letter to the editor (or guest column) via email HERE. The fight happened Thursday night between Camden High School and Camden Eastside High School. Eastside HS Athletic Department Contacts downloadable PDF . Griles had taken the role of legal guardian for most of those players, the schools subsequent investigation found. He has won more than a dozen national journalism awards and is a four-time Pulitzer finalist. The task force . But the club has declined to comment on the rest of the story . Capers, who said he coaches football at Irvington High School in Essex County, asserted that Paterson is now being held to a higher standard than are other districts. According to videos shared on social media, a male student can be seen escorting a female student with hands behind her back. In the meantime, a disclaimer as we have been investigating these reports, we have been cautioned (repeatedly) that controversial behavior is not necessarily the same as criminal behavior. 15 questions we still want answered after taxpayer-funded special report, A Star-Ledger Editorial: Report flawed by 'unexpectedly bizarre conclusion, The key players in Eastside scandal, fallout, Report leaves more questions than answers, Coaches, athletic director fired as fallout spreads, School forged transcripts in Eastside scandal. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Our Upstate sources which include law enforcement officers, prosecutors, attorneys and private investigators, among others have conveyed a remarkably consistent narrative about what allegedly transpired behind the scenes in this exclusive enclave. What if they came knocking on the door?". Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. This news outlet has leaned consistently libertarian in its coverage, and in addition to supporting all manner of consensual sex we have gone so far in the past as to editorialize on behalf of decriminalizing prostitution. *A Star-Ledger Editorial: Report flawed by 'unexpectedly bizarre conclusion', Justice Wallace's work is "relentlessly ignorant of those who coach sports on this level. Once in the mainland United States, Ortiz slept on piles of laundry and cold floors, while Rodriguez lived with a stranger who openly used drugs. In a practice last week with the Vaqueros, Selwyn finished every drill with a flourish. Jio Fontan, a former Sparks coach and now the head coach at Queen of Peace High, said he worked closely with Aquino early in her New Jersey stay. "I am the one who has missed out (on) a school.". *Ugly accusations tearthrough highest levels of school. Email Audrey Bass at asbass@greenville.k12.sc.us with any questions! "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. Rick Singer how he was describing it, theres three ways to get into college, he said. We are disappointed that these students engaged in this inappropriate behavior. "He was very intrigued and impressed with her level and quality of skills and wanted to speak more in depth with her and her family about the opportunity of a lifetime," the report said. I constantly see how students with amazing GPAs and stats, and amazing stories and extracurriculars are not going to the colleges they should have earned. He did not stick around for answers. VIDEO: Eastside Catholic HS teachers quit Classes could be delayed at a high school sports power house after more than a dozen teachers walked off the job. Justice Wallace interviewed 29 people for his report -- 28 Patersonemployees and 1 current player. But over here, you're like a god.". 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! "Especially because it was our kids who had to suffer the most because of this.. Lyde also told Ugboaja the school could accept international students with I-20s, Ugboaja said. That's room and board, she has to eat and that takes money. Griles, the Rodriguezes said, approached the family after Selwyn led Puerto Rico to the Under-17 championship in a 2011 Central America tournament. Neither do we. We have an open microphone policy here at FITSNews! Same goes for any attempt at blackmail. In the last week, these students have looked across the divide at youngsters their own age who live in an alternate universe of abundance and entitlement. "We would come back from the theater or wherever and we found that woman on the ground many times," Esteban said. She said she learned of the problem after enrolling last summer at Vanderbilt, where she had earned a full athletic scholarship. EHS ASB. 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. * Ousted athletic director: There are others at school involved in scandal. Ortiz left Somerset and moved in with the Rodriguezes in their apartment in downtown Paterson. 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. Selwyn and Esteban added they rarely left that room because they feared what was happening downstairs. Teachers are concerned those athletes are not being supported academically. This decision was announced in an email that was sent to our community last night. From the beginning of our coverage, we have been focused on three distinct Thornblade-related scandals: 1) Allegations of embezzlement involving the neighborhood golf club, 2) allegations of a prostitution ring (or sex ring) involving several Thornblade residents, and 3) allegations involving an athletics team at a government-run high school in nearby Taylors, S.C. which are said to be somehow connected to the prostitution/ sex ring accusations. The school board president at the time, Chris Irving, had said Johnson was being forced to retire as punishment. Community Forums on the 2023-2024 District Budget Tuesday, February 28 th, 6 p.m. - Virtual Forum hosted by the Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) CLICK HERE to join the virtual forum.. Wednesday, March 1st, 6 p.m. International High School auditorium, 200 Grand St., or CLICK HERE to watch the live stream.. Thursday, March 2nd, 6 p.m. Eastside High School, 150 Park Ave. or 3 Ghosts (24-5 . A fight broke out during the Camden County Tournament championship game between Camden High School and Eastside High School. But Johnson, who is Shafers domestic partner, remains on the districts payroll with a total salary of $170,000, according to public records. EHS. Viewer discretion is advised. PATERSON As a result of the basketball recruiting scandal that rocked Eastside High School in 2017, more than 100 Paterson sports coaches this year were required to pass a test about state athletic association rules. NJSIAA officials say they will take action in wake of NJ Advance Media's reporting. ", *Coaches, athletic director fired as fallout spreads. *African players are flocking to top N.J. basketball teams. Got a tip for a story? WHEN/WHERE: Monday, 4:30 p.m., at No. 2022-2023 School Year Calendar. Now, the state wants answers as the district takes action. "Who's going to respect a coach like him? The deputy in question is a family friend of both Rick and Jennifer Mathews (below), our sources say. KIRO 7 obtained a resignation letter written by teacher Lisa Abraham. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Again, though, we are told HSI is looking to question the deputy in connection with its investigation. PATERSON - Basketball players who transferred to Paterson's Eastside High School from Nigeria and Puerto Rico went through a different school registration process than did other students,. The smell of marijuana often wafted into their room, and they feared arguments downstairs eventually would escalate. Staff Login. "The post included a video with offensive content that will not be tolerated. My mom, shes a housekeeper and she used to work at a house in the Palisades, and the lady had kids and was very school-oriented, said Azucena Hilario, a Bravo junior. We had faith. Got something youd like to say in response to one of our articles? Got something youd like to say in response to one of our articles? document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); "Americas government since 1989 from top to bottom has been Thornblade Saga: Internal Affairs Investigation At Greenville County Sheriffs Office, Charleston Democrats Fret Over Former Republican Seeking Local Office On Their Ticket, Washington DC Protesters Target Lindsey Graham Over Supreme Court Vote, #SC2018: James Smith Touts Poll Showing His Viability, Bamberg SC Detention Center Officer Arrested Following Alleged Assault On Inmate, Mark Powells Palmetto Past & Present: Lost Confederate Gold, Ron Paul: The Anti-War Movement Roars Back To Life. Thirteen faculty members quit in protest, most of them teachers. Eastside had been one of the favorites to win both county and state titles. But criminally charged? All rights reserved (About Us). 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!) *The (many!) unanswered questions in the Paterson basketball scandal, How scandal of overseas hoops players living with H.S. 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. The school will be known as Eastside High School effective the 2022-2023 school year, which begins in the fall, following a vote during Tuesday evening's board of education meeting. He plays wheelchair basketball, he said, hoping for a scholarship. Documents obtained by NJ Advance Mediashow discourse within the district as scandal barreled out of control. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. *School suspends hoops coach who had 6 overseas players living with him. Association already has promised a rule change in response to international recruiting of players. "I should have been properly advised by those (at the school) and told the implications because I didn't even know I was out of status. Calendar & Category Legend: Eastside High School. See the documents, African players are flocking to top N.J. basketball teams. Their stories, when taken together, reveal just how far a high school program would go to scour the earth for talent, only to then discard many of the same players. Here's why. It happened during the Camden County. The school released the following statement Friday afternoon: "We made and announced administrative changes on August 2. The ongoing drama tied to this upscale Upstate neighborhood which was first reported by this news outlet a week ago has been dominating discussions in the greater Greenville, S.C. area. He retired at the end of June. It was an unfortunate ending for Ejiofor, who otherwise excelled at Eastside. It's still unclear what sparked the altercation. A closer look how the Paterson Eastside scandal has unfolded -- from a tip to a report detailing how 6 overseas players were living with the new-suspended coach of the powerhouse team. Aquino, now 18, also has blossomed on the court and will debut this month in ESPN's national Top 10 player rankings for the Class of 2018, according to Dan Olson, a girls basketball recruiting analyst. Another school board member, Emmanuel Capers, said he still believes the actions taken as a result of the news stories were excessive. I think Eileen Shafer has done a tremendous job being proactive on this.. Rodriguez scored 20 points in a head-to-head matchup with Karl-Anthony Towns, who eventually became the No. We have now invited the administrators and faculty to rejoin us on the first day of school. 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. "She's obviously confused and doesn't understand what's going on. 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. The turmoil weighed on Aquino, who confided in a teacher in 2015, according to the school report. That the athletic directors job.. On Tuesday, September 1, 2020, we reported that Rick Mathews had been interviewed on the previousTuesday (August 25, 2020)by agents of DHS Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)unit. 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. So these guys got her over here and then everybody dropped the ball on her.". Here are 10 you cant miss, Yosemite breaks decades-old snowfall record, closing national park indefinitely, San Diego federal judge had defendants 13-year-old daughter handcuffed. 140 Highway 142, Covington, GA 30014. Directions on submission are attached. *NJSIAA demands 'full accounting' from hoops power with several overseas players. Stay tuned we will continue doing our best to sift through the information we are provided related to all of these scandals. The students involved have been disciplined according to the student code of conduct. *N.J. lawmakers take steps to halt phony transcripts like ones used at Eastside. There are also blackmail allegations linked to the rumored prostitution/ sex ring. Meanwhile, we have spoken with numerous Thornblade residents who have offered their own intimate insights into the situation. The female student is then placed behind a gate and the first male student states, "Justice is served." Similarly, it is unclear whether the USSS investigation into Thornblade is tied to the alleged credit card fraud or some of the more illicit, sexually charged allegations. Abraham wrote, "I will not remain at a parochial school whose singular religious figure, and now, president badly lies to his faculty and staff.". Asked if he cared to comment, he shifted in his wheelchair and said he wanted to go to college but didnt know how hed ever come up with the money, so hes doing whatever he can. ICE officials are in the process of interviewing officials and players. 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. Ortiz, an undersized point guard with electric ball-handling skills, said no journey was too long to dish on Juan Griles. Supervisor of Athletics at Eastside High School phone: 973 321-0515 Email: thill@paterson.k12.nj.us. Days after a report detailed that six overseas basketball players were living with a coach, a number of pressing issues remained. 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. Juan Griles,coach of the powerhouse boys basketball team, was among those fired by the Board of Education. Probably. Her stay with Ayala did not last long, according to coaches and the report, even though he is still listed as her guardian on school documents. So far, there has been no official acknowledgement of the seismic, sexually charged side of this investigation by anyone in law enforcement. Carol said she was talking to her father about the scandal, and they wondered where the cheating stopped. Selwyn's knee healed, but his relationship with the coach never did. *NJSIAA slams Eastside with unprecedented penalties. He was benched for a first-round state playoff game, and the reason seemed almost too cruel to believe. The Beat reporters heard each other out and decided to invite a teacher, a college student and a parent maybe Azucenas mother to participate in a radio talk show about the scandal. I used to play against them and perform good. The punishments imposed against Cooper and the others stemmed from an investigation conducted by a. A KIRO 7 crew went to Eastside Catholic to try to talk to administrators and was told to leave. Ayala also told people he was related to Aquino, and the ESPN articlerefers to Aquino having a cousin in New Jersey. The police investigated the incident as an alleged gang rape. Griles, Ortiz said, refused to stop for food after practice even after he repeatedly complained he was hungry. These allegations have since received mainstream media coverage courtesy of The Greenville News. The Camden City School District said Friday that both teams have been withdrawn from the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) state tournament. Submit your letter to the editor (or guest column) via email HERE. 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