Prep Zone

By mckenzie

October 31, 2006 03:08 PM | Link to this

I on’t think its anything wrong with athletes transferring to better their chances. every year you have coaches and schools that are buliding new stadiums and increasing their pockets when the players get nothing more than a kick in the but or no scholarship opportunity at all. I watched how hoover high in alabama won a state championship and mybe only 4 or 5 players received scholarships thats sad and should be an example of how coaches as well as school don’t really care about the athlete just a chance to get exposed. So if a player wants to leave to better their chances why not.

By KSShake

October 31, 2006 04:11 PM | Link to this

CHEATING, RECRUITING. It’s been happening and the ONLY reason I’ve been against it is because every school systems’ athletic department isn’t on the same page with their vision or financially. Rich schools (from wealthy communities) with big money boosters can afford the best of facilities and some school systems put more money into building bigger more lavish schools and it gives them an advantage. If everybody had the same things to offer facilities wise then it could very easily be determined by who has the better coaching or what school prepares me for college better. But more often than not that’s not the case. The recruiting going on is based on vain, egotistical coaches that are greedy and want every good player their influence, and big money boosters can get their hands on, “put up” (put their family up in a nice apartment in the school zone, and lure to their school. Coach Lipscomb at Wheeler, Buford in football, Berkmar basketball a couple of years ago, Norcross basketball now, I’m not gonna call out East Hall like that because I don’t have proof in that case as I do with the others. More often than not it’s not about this kid just wanting a better opportunity. If you believe that I’ve got some beach property in Nebraska I’m selling for the “low-low”. It’s these coaches wanting that other bluechip propect to help increase their chances of of not just winning but building that attractive dynasty that gets a lot of attention, that everyone wants to play for. That allows them to improve everything and not have to do the blatant recruiting. They key is malikng the program so appealing kids wanna go their anyway. No matter how you slice it,it’s a dirty, UNFAIR business. Some schools compete inspite of it (Columbia, South Cobb, Dunwoody, Westlake, Redan, Tri-Cities, Mays) but, you notice the edge, the difference, in Wheeler and Norcross (with the recruiting). Thats why I only pull for them when they play an out-of-state team

By Jimmy Payne

October 31, 2006 08:00 PM | Link to this

KSShake makes the statement that he has proof that schools like Norcross, Wheeler, Buford and Berkmar have recruited. I, along with many others, are tired of hearing these blowhard loudmouths flap their jaws when they have no idea what they are talking about much less have any so called proof to support their lies.

David Purdum makes the statement that in most cases it is the player or his family who contacts the school about a transfer and not the school contacting the player. This is dead on true. I can only speak for Buford, but no one with any connection to Buford at all has ever or will ever break a rule to get a player to that school. From the school board down to Coach Wood and Coach Simpson or any other coach in any other sport for that matter this would not be tolerated in any way. As for “putting up” a player, I know Buford has never done this and I doubt that any school, coach or adminstration would be so stupid.

Here is the bottom line from someone who moved so his sons could play for a great coach at a great school. If you have a great school, facilities, teachers, coaches and administration people will come to you, you don’t need to recruit even if you wanted to.

You never get an invitation to a great steak house, but you know where they are and you will go to a lot of trouble to enjoy what they serve.

By bad dog

October 31, 2006 08:00 PM | Link to this

The players and their Dads, older brothers, Agents or Publicists are alot more aggressive in the High School Sports Transfer business then the High School Coaches. They leave their Team and friends for what they believe will be better opportunity for themselves. They get marketed like they are the next coming and sometimes the Coaches get pulled into the hype. Our program has had one of these well marketed transfers the last three seasons. The program has not been led to Victory once by these high profile Transfers and two of the players didn’t have enough game to even put out on the field. I imagine it’s hard for these kids to fit back in with their old friends in the neighborhood.

By KSShake

November 1, 2006 09:50 AM | Link to this

Jimmy Payne, I really don’t care what you’re tired of hearing. Of course you don’t want to hear it, you benefit from it. I could be a “blowhard loudmouth” (but I’m not). You just don’t agree with me. But in your arrogance and ignorance (because you don’t know me or what I know or don’t know). That sir, IS a FACT! I’m glad I attend various games and know and associate with a diverse group of people as well as work in the school system and coach and follow ALL sports. That’s why I get to see the “whole” picture. Read my blog carefully, Unless you’re a supporter of Wheeler Basketball, Norcross, or Buford football. Don’t get so salty. And even then still, check out this blog section, people ain’t blowin up the blog about what I said because people know it’s true. Man don’t tell me what I don’t know. J. J. Hickson went to my school, I know the kid. No body’s hatein’ on you for what you’re doing for “you’re” kids. I guess that’s why your so sensitive. But don’t act like this stuff isn’t going on, cause it is. Don’t worry the schools (teams) I mentioned are so good at what they’ve done and accomplished so much, you’re right, they DON’T have to do as much anymore. But make no mistake about it nearly “everyones” got a hustle, some just got a “better” hustle, and some have more assets to hustle with. But you need to get off that notion that these coaches are so “holier-than-thou” that their above making the “game” or the “hustle” work for them and their program. Hey man,it is what it is. I’m just saying everybody doesn’t have the same to offer, so it ISN’T fair. Yet, we play on!

By mssy

November 1, 2006 10:39 AM | Link to this

Recruiting is a bad thing when players are allowed to attend schools outside of their home school, and given addresses to use by the coaches and administration. This is particularly upsetting, when there are parents who would love to send their kids to schools outside of their district for academic reasons, and can’t!! There one’s one team in DeKalb that is well known to do it for football players

By Jimmy Payne

November 1, 2006 11:37 AM | Link to this

KS, You are right about one thing, everybody doesn’t have the same to offer. It is the same way in all of life. Life ain’t fair, you can’t make it fair, you can’t make all schools the same either. But I will say this, I am sensitive when someone questions the character of people I know very well who do things the right way because that is the only way the do anything. I am also sensitive to people who claim to have proof and I know they don’t because there is none and will never be. What didn’t happen doesn’t exist.

By KSShake

November 1, 2006 01:52 PM | Link to this

I assume Jimmy Payne, that your whining about me mentioning Norcross or Wheeler basketball or Buford football.

Let’s see how does it go. If a tree falls in the wilderness, and no one is around to hear it fall, does it make a sound???

All I know is your “life isn’t fair” spell may be true. Cause I know ours is a dog eat dog, haves and have nots society. So you’ll always think the way you think. because apparently, I don’t know, you’re on the side reaping benefits from things being that way. But, this my freind is high school sports, that’s right kids, and even though they can and do learn that lesson everywhere in society, I (as well as some others) feel that high school ATHLETICS shouldn’t be determined like that. I accept that it is, but I don’t deny it and turn my nose up and snub the kid or the school that’s less fortunate. I wouldn’t expect you to care about it. But hey, you know what you know to be fact and true and I know what I know to be fact and true. And I don’t fault you as a parent (especially), I fault the scholl systems and people running the athletic departments for allowing things like facililties and things a school has to offer academically or otherwise to become a factor when the difference and disparity becomes SO outrageous it can be used as a recruiting tool. These are schools when its all said and done and there SHOULD be a level of fairness and equality regardless of how competition is approached.

I know your not gonna agree with me but I just see it from a different perspective than you do.

By Take your blindfold off

November 1, 2006 06:00 PM | Link to this

Jimmy, Little question for you about Buford….Ever heard of Christy Thomas…. From what I remember in the AJC, A former AD for Buford lost his job due to the fact that they were paying for her tuition to go to buford out of the Athletics fund, she was a star basketball player at Buford, then at UGA and I think she plays professionally now. So don’t lecture people when you don’t know!

By ready for this

November 1, 2006 08:20 PM | Link to this

This year is a perfect example of what losing players gained from questionable sources will do to a team…just check out the Parkview program. The 3 D-1 prospects that transferred out of the Parkview program after last season were from questionable sources when they came there. Go back each year and you will find that some of their best players just happened to have transferred in.

By Jimmy Payne

November 1, 2006 08:39 PM | Link to this

Yes I have heard of Christy. She grew up in Buford. Lived there her whole life. Moved from one apartment in the Buford city limits to one outside within the same complex between her Junior and senior year. Both the principal and the A.D. lost their jobs because they just paid the tuition instead of getting it from her parents. You just make my point for me. Buford did not then nor will they now tolerate anyone who cheats. By the way Buford also turned themselves into GHSA, something they did not have to do because they ruled Buford had dealt with the problem properly.

By BIGTYME

November 1, 2006 10:56 PM | Link to this

Ks you are right about what u said,and thats the game. Every body got to get in where they fit in. I was reading the rise magazine today and they had the all area b-ball pre-season hype and every player was from wheeler and norcross and look at the rosters from 05 to 06 and see how many new so. jr.and sr. have transfered in from aau teams. Also I now live in the new south Henry County my sons are 11 and 12 both 5-9 190 straight balln I dont know where to send them would you help me please willing to relocate.

By Facts?

November 2, 2006 07:16 AM | Link to this

I, for one, would LOVE to hear some of these “facts”.

By Take your blindfold off

November 2, 2006 07:34 AM | Link to this

Christy didn’t move to the same complex, she moved OUT of gwinnett county. SHe moved into the west Hall district. It was the auditors that caught the missing funds and then asked where it went. Still recruiting goes on at all levels even in the Little league teams in Gwinnett County. Even though there is a stiff penalty if it can be proven, it still happens.

By WHAT

November 2, 2006 08:16 AM | Link to this

IT NOT ONLY HAPPENS IN FOOTBALL AND BASKETBALL BUT IN BASEBALL TOO. THERES ONE SCHOOL IN DEKALB COUNTY THAT RECRUITS ALL THE TOP PLAYERS IN THE COUNTY.BECAUSE THEY HAVE HAD A COUPLE AF KIDS GO PRO. SO KIDS WOULD BE AUTOMATICALLY ATTRACTED TO THAT SCHOOL. COACHES IN THE COUNTY ARE FED UP. IF YOU THINK IM LYING CHECK THIS OUT. THESE ARE THE KIDS AND THE SCHOOL THEY CAME FROM RANNIE FORE-SWD TRAVIS BELL-SWD TIM JONES-STEPHENSON SHAUN PAYNE-STEPHENSON CODY LUCAS-AVONDALE XAIER WYATT-CEADER GROVE KEVIN JONES-MLK. NOT TO MENTION THE ONES THAT JUST GRADUATED.TYRONE ELLIS-CEADER GROVE CHRIS JONES LITHONIA KYLE SMITH-MLK SOME ONE IN ADMINASTRATION KNOWS WHATS GOING THERE TO MANY KIDS FROM SAME COUNTY TRANSFERRING TOTHE SAME SCHOOL. AN PLAYING THE SAME SPORT.

By calvin

November 2, 2006 09:41 AM | Link to this

It (recruiting) has been going on for many years. How else do you get James Brooks, Jimmy Womack and Ronald Simmons on the same football team as a group for three years. Won a state and national championship with that group. crica 1976

By KSShake

November 3, 2006 11:25 AM | Link to this

J. Payne, you act like you proved your point. The Athletic Director? the Principal? the Coach? And just because someone outside of the click spotted it and they knew they would HAVE TO “fess’up”. Come on man, I realize you’re down with Buford but don’t try to play the rest of us like were stupid. As you see by Take your blindfold off, BigTyme, What?, and Calvin, most folks agree and know what time it is.

And then there’s Facts?, You act like you’re some judge or governing body, why should I tell you who or what I know? Are you gonna do something about it? You gonna impose some sort of penalty? or do you think it’s only a fact if you know about it or agree with it?

Man I tell ya, the arrogance of some people!

By Gman

November 3, 2006 11:35 AM | Link to this

Right up the road from Parkview is a little brick apartment building called, no lie, “The Panther Arms” Over the years there’s been a whole lot of players “live” there. Just sayin’

By KSShake

November 3, 2006 02:56 PM | Link to this

Gman there’s something similar at Wheeler (without the name of course) but apartments down the stree no less not too far from Wheeler that more than one transfer has lived in.