Griles, the Rodriguezes said, approached the family after Selwyn led Puerto Rico to the Under-17 championship in a 2011 Central America tournament. When one Disciple wanted to get out earlier this year, he was told in no uncertain terms that leaving was not an option. 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. CLICK HERE. The players came to Paterson Eastside from Nigeria, Paraguay and Puerto Rico in search of their own hoops dream. *Troubling new questions, including concerns of human trafficking, broadside Eastside boys and girls programs. 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. 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. For now, however, he thinks about other opportunities he had after that big international tournament in 2011, and how his career might have been different had he never met Griles. The school board terminated two Eastside High School basketball coaches and the school's athletics supervisor on Wednesday night as a result of an investigation into the school's use of foreign players on its team. But there he was Wednesday in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, at a massive Goya factory. Former Supreme Court justice was paid$900 each time he traveled from South Jersey to the Passaic County school. Matthew Stanmyre may be reached at mstanmyre@njadvancemedia.com. I could have done something to help that kid," Olson continued. 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. 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. 2022-2023 School Year Calendar. Infighting, finger pointing and chaos erupted among high-ranking Paterson school district administrators as the Eastside High basketball scandal barreled out of control, according to a. Support NJ.com, Matthew Stanmyre and Steve Politi | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, Juan Griles, the basketball coach at Eastside. 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. Theres the back door, which [is] you pull strings and do donations and then theres the side door, which he kind of created. Selwyn and Esteban added they rarely left that room because they feared what was happening downstairs. 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 . Even the women making rice-and-beans in the back of the room stopped to snap photos. "She was treated like a freak because she was so tall," said a New Jersey coach familiar with Aquino who declined to be identified due to the delicacy of the situation. 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. Find NJ.com on Facebook. It has also prompted an investigation by the U.S. Secret Service (USSS) although it is not initially clear which component of the multi-faceted situation the feds are focused on. 2:14. By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. 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." Luis says he reads up on the college application process and what his peers say about their experiences. The college admissions cheating scandal is roiling some of Southern California's most elite prep schools, . That meeting took place almost one year to the day after the Paterson Board of Education approved disciplinary action against five employees including the termination of Eastsides athletics supervisor, Gregory Cooper; the removal of the head coach of the boys team, Juan Griles; and the suspension of the head coach of the girls squad, Ray Lyde Jr. I think Paterson is ready to move on, said Assemblyman Benjie Wimberly, a former football and baseball coach at Eastside, who now coaches Hackensack High School's football team. While membership obviously had its privileges, the club apparently had a strict no cancellation policy. For Andrea and fellow Boyle Heights Beat reporters, news of the $25-million college entrance racketeering scandal hit like a gut punch. A basketball powerhouse is under fire after packing its roster from overseas, leaving players to live with their coach. He asked to play with the junior varsity just to prove he belonged. *15 questions we still want answered after taxpayer-funded special report. 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. Our number one objective at the district is to raise students that meet the standards that we set for society and that we want our very own children to embody.Nevertheless, last night, at the Cherry Hill High School East gym those standards were severely undermined by an incident between Camden High School and Eastside High School during the championship game of the Camden County Basketball Tournament.Let me be clear, I am saddened and disappointed with the conflict from last night, but I believe we need to make this a learning experience for our student body.Furthermore, we know meaningful action must be taken and it must be done swiftly which is why the District will be withdrawing both teams from NJSIAA tournament play.This initiative is being taken to ensure that our scholar-athletes know that accountability for their actions is paramount not only in basketball but also in the larger game of life. 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 It happened during the Camden County. F: contact@email.org Get Directions. *African players are flocking to top N.J. basketball teams. The Office of the Attorney General is reaching out to staffers at Eastside. The police investigated the incident as an alleged gang rape. "He didn't have a bed (for me) so I was sleeping on a pile of clothes on the floor. The first one, a senior named Luis, knew the name of the cheating scandals mastermind. It took3teachers who risked everything tohelp the final 2 African players escape the mess at Eastside High. See the documents, African players are flocking to top N.J. basketball teams. Frame. Alberto Maldonado sat down with NJ Advance Media for a revealing and wide-ranging Q&A Tuesday. 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.. 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.. Phone 770-784-2920 | Fax 770-784-2918. *Broken promises and disposable players: The remarkable story how Eastside coaches lured foreign players. 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. Read more: http://nj-ne.ws/lHtJWSq. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). "I am innocent and didn't know any better," Ejiofor said. "You gotta call her coach and whoever. Ejiofor said she was greeted by a man she had never met or heard of -- Ray Lyde Jr., the girls coach at Eastside. Olson, the recruiting analyst, said he watched Aquino play twice in January and marveled over her agility for a player of her size. The now-deceased woman who owned the house, the brothers said, was a drug addict who regularly used while they were upstairs. But Esteban, who admits crying when he read the first story about the Eastside scandal, said Selwyn was . For example, Lyde and a student registration secretary were able to get pay that they originally been denied during Evans tenure. More:Paterson picks new AD to replace one fired in Eastside hoops scandal, More:Lawyer says Paterson Eastside coach victim of fake news in hoops scandal, More:Paterson's Eastside loses appeal of ban from state basketball tourney. Eastside HS Athletic Department Contacts downloadable PDF . (Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com), *Season's over: Eastside boys pull out of Passaic County Tournament. "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. WHAT TO KNOW: After winning Saturday's sectional semifinal at No. Meanwhile, sources tell us the Greenville county sheriffs office which was first made aware of the allegations involving the clubs finances in May of this year has launched an internal investigation into the proximity of one of its officers to the related scandals. when she graduated from high school. What sort of activities are the feds looking into in connection with all of this? He was visiting family in Queens and playing for a club team in a tournament at Eastside. Paterson officials 'highly troubled' by latest bombshell in scandal that began with report of 6 overseas players living in coach's condo and widened to include concerns of human trafficking. He told me he was going to get it fixed, but I couldn't handle that any more. Eileen Shafer, the schools superintendent, submitted a status report on the 50-step plan to the New Jersey Board of Education during a recent meeting in Trenton. ", To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that Paterson Eastside High's boys basketball team has been infused with talented players from Puerto Rico and Nigeria. At 6-foot-7, people in her village thoughtshewas a freak --all arms and legs clinging to themotorcycle she and her mother sold clothes from to support themselves. The injured boy is 16 years old. A second male student then appears on screen and states, "Remember, *explicit removed* the Mexicans. CLICK HERE. (Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com). coach blew up. Thats not their job. We have an open microphone policy here at FITSNews! "We would come back from the theater or wherever and we found that woman on the ground many times," Esteban said. You pay him and youll get a guaranteed school.. *State vows to crack down on international player recruiting. The districts status update on the plan says none of its employees reported taking transfer students into their homes or becoming their guardians. And that consensual sex acts between individuals of consenting age are, well, consensual.. She says that, on weekends, her mother makes and sells pupusas outside the South L.A. home they rent from an uncle. ", "I'm the victim because I'm the one who is out of school for six months," Ejiofor said last month. 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. 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. Submit your letter to the editor (or guest column) via email HERE. "We just needed one college scout to come and visit him, but nobody ever came. The Eastside basketball scandal was exposed in news stories published in the Star-Ledger. The second of five players emerge from the home of head coach Juan Griles a day after he said only two of his Paterson Eastside basketball players are living with him at his home on E. 19th Street. 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. Another school board member, Emmanuel Capers, said he still believes the actions taken as a result of the news stories were excessive. What sort of proximity are we talking about? In a practice last week with the Vaqueros, Selwyn finished every drill with a flourish. The board of trustees met Thursday evening to discuss the possibility of offering the principals their jobs back and rehiring the teachers who resigned. All four ended up in Paterson, playing for the powerhouse teams at Eastside High School, . "As a result of the information that Andrea has shared, it is evident that Andrea may be the victim of neglect, child exploitation, emotional abuse and child endangerment," the report reads. Aquino needed to get to the U.S., where she could develop her game, earn a college scholarship and potentially play professionally. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, million college entrance racketeering scandal, reverse discrimination for the privileged, Before and after photos from space show storms effect on California reservoirs, 19 cafes that make L.A. a world-class coffee destination, Dramatic before and after photos from space show epic snow blanketing SoCal mountains, The chance of a lifetime: Five friends ski the tallest mountain in Los Angeles, Shocking, impossible gas bills push restaurants to the brink of closures, Im visiting all 600 L.A. spots on the National Register. Maybe that will ease his regrets. Our sources also tell us not all of the sex acts currently under the law enforcement microscope were necessarily consensual which would be criminal under any circumstances. Since our first story on Thornblade ran last week, we have been bombarded with tips related to these various allegations. Instead, he ended up in a cramped, uncomfortable attic, fearful of the woman on the floors below, her drug habit and the visitors she attracted. Blessing Ejiofor landed at John F. Kennedy International Airport in February 2014, working through a mental checklist of her new life in North Carolina. This decision was announced in an email that was sent to our community last night. Got a tip for a story? A big shakeup happened at Eastside Catholic after two principals were fired and 13 faculty members quit in protest. 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. We have also rescheduled our back-to-school dates to allow us to refocus on the classroom and prepare adequately. Now, the state is taking a closer look at how they got here. supports HTML5 video. According to that action , Brian Gem Garrison - a former adjunct tennis coach at Eastside High School in Taylors, S.C. - was protected in allegedly predatory activities by the school's . *School suspends hoops coach who had 6 overseas players living with him. "I would have been able to pull names out of a hat pretty quick to be able to get her in the right direction. 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. 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? She earned a 3.7 grade-point average and graduated in the top 20 of her class, according to an article in the Paterson Times. March 17, 2019 5 AM PT. 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 . Over the weekend, Shafer reached out to Mayor Andre Sayegh and Public Safety Director Jerry Speziale and was put in contact with . VIDEO: Eastside Catholic HS teachers quit. *Fired coach wonders: How did I become guardian for 7-foot Nigerian player? HSI agents have also reportedly been asking questions about Brian Gem Garrison - a former adjunct tennis coach at Eastside High School in Taylors, S.C. who was arrested and charged with. 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. All are in compliance, wrote the monitor, Gary Farishian. Ejiofor, now 18 after graduating from Eastside 10 months ago, didn't know it then, but she violated immigration laws when she entered Eastside, which is not authorized to issue I-20s. Probably. 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. More:Paterson Eastside High School basketball ban upheld by state commissioner, More:Paterson names new coach for Eastside girls basketball team, More:Michael Baker named boys basketball coach as Eastside looks to rebound from scandal. Spirit Week Application SIC Call for Nominations SIC Call for Nominations Blessing Ejiofor (left) and Andrea Aquino pose in a picture posted to Twitter in November 2015. CLICK HERE. 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. Promises and disposable players: the remarkable story how Eastside coaches lured foreign players a guaranteed school.. State. The incident as an alleged gang rape employees reported taking transfer students into homes! Members quit in protest get out earlier this year, he was family! Bed ( for me ) so I was sleeping on a pile of clothes on the application. Know: after winning Saturday & # eastside high school scandal ; s sectional semifinal at no coaches lured foreign.... Submit to this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support journalism! 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