Prep Zone

By smileswiper

June 26, 2007 12:16 PM | Link to this

i think if they move legally which they did gasa has noyhing to do with it and it could be the kids future so yes I would do it.

By Oldtimedawg

June 26, 2007 12:27 PM | Link to this

Absolutely I would. Some schools don’t care about basketball, don’tplay in Xmas tournaments and don’t have top coaches. If the kid had the talent and he wanted to do it,I see nothing wrong.

By Ralph

June 26, 2007 12:44 PM | Link to this

More of the same BS that has happen for years that the good DR. SWEARINGER TURNS HIS HEAD TOO. The rich get richer and the GHSA don’t care as long as they get there share and keep control. Its time for the state to take control and take the control away from the 10 or 15 people that run it now.

By John

June 26, 2007 12:47 PM | Link to this

It should be just like college. Let them transfer, but make the process cost them a year.

By coach

June 26, 2007 1:00 PM | Link to this

“The GHSCA is a dictatorship.”

By steve

June 26, 2007 1:38 PM | Link to this

I think it is incredibly sad that parents would move just for the purpose of participating in a particular athletic program. Sports carry too much weight in our society. The drawbacks of such a move far outweigh the benefits.

Having said that, legally, I am not sure what you can do about it. People move for a variety of reasons. You can’t start punishing all kids by making them sit out a year when their parents are forced to relocate. How could you punish a kid who changes schools because dad got a transfer? You couldn’t.

By the way, I graduated from Wheeler and played basketball there (20 something years ago!). Times have certainly changed! We were never a program that would have caused people to move just to play basketball.

By Panther Hunter

June 26, 2007 1:45 PM | Link to this

Parkview has been gathering football players like this for years without being penalized so why can’t other sports/schools do the same thing?

By Big Man

June 26, 2007 2:37 PM | Link to this

I agree Panther Hunter. It sounds like sour grapes from a lot of those that complain, but at the same time I personally would like for kids to stick out their situation. Sometimes you have to do what you gotta do though.

By Erkel

June 26, 2007 2:49 PM | Link to this

Legally, it’s “nunya”. But as for the big picture, we all see the writing on the wall. Kids will follow any conduit that leads to the golden chalice. Same choices we adults make every day, correct? Personally, I believe we need to teach some type of allegiance. Problem is, no one is from Atlanta or these smaller cities in the metro. Most of us live in newly founded neighborhoods with no allegiances. and we don’t enforce these quasi-allegiances on our kids these days. good luck changing your kids school to see this.

By JAMES MCRAE

June 26, 2007 3:42 PM | Link to this

IF THE STUDENT MOVE INTO THAT ZONE,THE GHSA SHOULD STAY OUT OF IT. PARENTS ARE GOING TO DO WHAT IS BEST HIS OR HER CHILD.

By Proud Dawg

June 26, 2007 3:48 PM | Link to this

This is a moot point! Because of a variety of dynamics people have to move and the children have to attend that district’s school. Whether or not they do it for athletic or academic reasons should not matter. As long as they are legal residents of that district, so be it!

By Lamar

June 26, 2007 5:55 PM | Link to this

I’m not condoning the transfers. But let me offer this: parents move all the time so that their kids can go to schools that have better teachers, bands, academics, etc. If you are going to penalize basketball players, then shouldn’t others be penalized also?

By Gardner

June 26, 2007 7:52 PM | Link to this

Hex yes, it’s an investment in your childs future. In this case, Richard will get “top notch” exposure, which is much better than what he would have received at CGHS. Also the coach at Wheeler will “DEVELOP” Richard more. The coach at Central Gwinnett does not know how to “DEVELOP” players. As long as it done for the right reason, make the move.

By Dacula

June 26, 2007 8:33 PM | Link to this

I have no problem with kids transferring schools as long as the parents move into that new school’s district. What the state really needs to crack down on is the recruiting that goes on with private and especially with city schools. The Buford Wolves are gwinnett’s most notorious cheaters. All you had to do this past year was watch a Notre Dame football game and see what Darius Walker has listed as his hometown (that would be Lawrenceville, GA). Last time I checked you were supposed to live in the city limits to attend that city’s school. I have been told by a very reliable source that is Buford’s 2007 senior class there were 10 football players begin their careers at Dacula. TEN! I guess that is just a coincidence. But you don’t always get what you bargain for. While Buford has only gone as far as the quarter finals the last 3 years, Dacula has also been to the playoffs the last 3 years with a trip the the semifinals during their junior season. If a kid is a good enough player, colleges will find them. Whatever happened to playing for your community and your friends? I guess modern day kids and their parents are just down right selfish.

By CoachRob

June 26, 2007 9:13 PM | Link to this

Heck, it hasn’t stopped Redan High School from Recruiting Baseball players every year and they haven’t won ANYTHING! The last 2 years alone they have had over 12 SENIOR transfers.

But when it comes time to get it done in the State Playoffs, they CHOKE every time. So you can recruit all you want, but that won’t guarentee anything, just ask Redan Baseball. Most overrated baseball program in the State.

By Terry

June 26, 2007 10:50 PM | Link to this

I do not like shopping for programs, but….a state supervisory agency cannot successfully and fairly investigate all parent moves and then determine which ones are legitimate and which ones are purely in the interest of shopping for what they think is a better program or coach.

Families move for many reasons, most for very valid, legitimate, and inter-related reasons.

The student/athlete should be eligible if the family moves to a new district or if the student is in need of a home

By Will

June 27, 2007 12:55 AM | Link to this

People just need to stop hating. If your son or daughter was playing you guys would want the best for the as well. Even if its more exposure.

By boost

June 27, 2007 1:04 AM | Link to this

They don’t even have to move anymore. Al-forouq, Howard Thompkins and Obie Edwards (Redan) all played on Stephenson Middle School basketball team together in 2004. All of them still live in the same place they lived then yet none of them are at Stephenson High School. But what are you gonna do about it?????

By Andy Lanier

June 27, 2007 6:32 AM | Link to this

It is time for the high school league to have some guts and take control— make them sit a year.

By The Man with the Plan

June 27, 2007 8:28 AM | Link to this

It’s funny how many of the people who b!tch and moan about alleged recruiting by private schools don’t have a thing to say when so-called “elite” athletes transfer from one public school to another.

I realize that it has become par for the course in Metro Atlanta, but all of this moving around is contrary to what high school sports are supposed to be about.

It’s supposed to be about the kids representing their community or their town; it’s not supposed to be about the best players getting together and deciding to form an all-star team.

I realize that it’s a “new” day, but the teams that always seem to benefit from the tranfers have a distinctly unfair advantage over the programs that field “home-grown” teams.

Maybe the GHSA should place an asterisk next to the name of any school that wins a championship with X number of transfers. Or maybe they should compete in their own separate division.

By Waikeeta Flagg

June 27, 2007 9:10 AM | Link to this

I don’t think GHSA need to step in and do anything.His parents did the right thing by moving which moving is legal.If they would have left him in his old school that would have made it illegal and that make them felons according to the law.I am in the same situation and daughter has my best interest and I am thinking about moving to another county for more exposure for her.So I really know how they feel.

By JRDAWGMAN

June 27, 2007 9:24 AM | Link to this

The GHSA has too much power, yhat being said they could step in and do something about the obvious cheaters but instead they sit back in their castle and make silly & stupid rule changes that other states would never allow.

By GaBreed

June 27, 2007 9:27 AM | Link to this

I know far more parents that relocate to better school districts for academic purposes, why? To better insure their child’s chances in life. Same difference, if a move, albeit athletically driven, causes a child to be offered an elite school’s scholarship offer betters his/her chances at success in life. So are you suggesting that parents should be forced to keep their kids in poorly performing academic systems and be made to make due? I think not. The same reason my city’s population has grown so in the last 25 years, people looking to better their stake in life. GSHA has no choice but to be a spectator on this issue.

By Be Honest

June 27, 2007 9:56 AM | Link to this

In the case of Howell, he can’t make the case for more exposure. He is ranked 26th nationally in his class. And he already has offers from many elite schools. This is either a selfish move to get more “wins” or there is another reason, like coachs. I wish they would just be honest and not use the BS “exposure” excuse. Based on what has been published so far, I have lost alot of respect for him.

By Doug B

June 27, 2007 10:24 AM | Link to this

No! I wouldn’t move. First, assuming my son or daughter really was a good as they say it wouldn’t matter where he/she played.

If it turns out that they aren’t as good as they say and I take to a new school where they sit on the bench, I have just deprived them of playing time with my mythology.

This isn’t basketball, but as I recall Herschel Walker came from a small school. The point being that hard work and talent mix well no matter where you are. To change schools doesn’t necessarily make an athlete better.

By TBD

June 27, 2007 11:11 AM | Link to this

It is unbelievable that GSHA has not done anything before now. Buford has been recruiting for years and now Peachtree Ridge is doing the same thing. Peachtree Ridge has had 3 high profile players transfer just this year. Something has to be done to stop this!!!

By Fellippe

June 27, 2007 11:13 AM | Link to this

I have no problem with the transfers IF the family moves to that district. It is programs like Cartersville that recruit from Cass, Woodlands and Adairsville that have tainted High School Football. Why should a High School program have a recruiter paid by the school system? One of Cartersville’s “stars” lived down the road from me and we are far from the city. One only needs to pay an enrollment fee of $300 and you are in. Whatever happened to going to the school in which district you live in? As long as Dad can pay, your kids can go to any school they want to. That is a shame for rural county programs that could be great if the entire talent pool wasn’t being recruited to go to another school.

By red

June 27, 2007 2:24 PM | Link to this

Watch for tucker, dunwoody, and columbia this year. Notice that their J.V. rarely rises to varsity. Especially dunwoody.

By Tarheel

June 27, 2007 3:44 PM | Link to this

I am from North Carolina although I am an avid reader of acj.com. We too have the recruiting/transfer issue, which I am DEAD SET against.

I do not have a child talented enough for recruiters to seek, but at my old high school there are several kids which have transferred into the school, out of their district, just to have the chance to win a state title and have more exposure.

My feeling is you DO NOT have to transfer into another district to be noticed by a major college. Take for instance Tyler Hansboro, a UNC player from Poplar Bluff, MO. I had never heard of Poplar Bluff until he came on the recruiting wires.

Tyler was rookie of the year, all ACC and 2nd team All American his freshman year. There is only 1 high school in Poplar Bluff, but even being out in the middle of nowhere, he had the talent to be noticed by several high profile programs, including UNC.

This goes to prove that a child DOES NOT have to transfer into a better district to be noticed. If the talent is there, he/she will be bombarded by major college recruiters. I feel this way about all high school sports, not just basketball or football.

Let the kids enjoy high school and then let the chips fall as they may. Once again, if the talent is there, he/she WILL be sought out, regardless of where they play their high school sports.

By coach carter

June 27, 2007 9:01 PM | Link to this

As a high schol basktball coach in Cobb County, I know that rcruiting goes on a lot. Many of the coaches get these players and their teams are stacked. All of the sudden they become known as these great coaches. Well it’s easy to win a lot of games when you have all the best players. The best coaches are the ones who coach the players that they have and they get the most out of those players. Recruiting will always happen in high school athletics. Parents are brainwashed into thinking that their children are getting the best coaches, but in the long run they are being used. Should the ghsa step up anxd investigate more? Yes! They dont have the balls to do it!

By Marcus

June 28, 2007 12:39 AM | Link to this

He will look good in the green and white of Michigan State.

By Peter

June 28, 2007 6:57 AM | Link to this

Is it OK to transfer schools because one is better academically than another? If so, why shouldn’t sports also be a valid reason…both intellect and atheltic abilities are God-given talents that should be optimized.

By Big Ezee

June 28, 2007 9:17 AM | Link to this

In basketball the exposure for most of the talented athletes in that sport comes from the summer basketball exposure programs. There is 3 or 4 major programs that grab the talent in the summer time and make the nation wide spring/summer rounds to the Big Time spring/summer show time classic. Now, as far as transferring for more exposure that is not a valid reason and if that is what is given then they should be punished by giving up a year just like in college and then this would give you second thoughts about moving. Chris Allen didn’t leave Meadowcreek, Lewis Williams didn’t leave South Gwinnett and the exposure was there for them. Rich keep getting richer, but the kids sometime suffer…. Keep the kids in mind before having them leave their friends that was made before the talent friends last forever basketball ends at one point…..

By Richard Howell, Jr.

June 28, 2007 10:32 AM | Link to this

He has a offer from Michigan State, not Michigan, get your facts right bro.

By J

June 28, 2007 11:18 AM | Link to this

As the parent of an NCAA Division I athlete who transferred after his freshman year, I understand why the Howells are stating “exposure” as the reason for the transfer. The reason my son gave to the public for his transfer was that he couldn’t stand the cold weather. The real reason was because the program was not what he was lead to believe when he signed. The program was weak and my son’s talent began to diminish. When an athlete puts in the personal time and work to become elite, he deserves a program that will help him continue. Even though my son was honest with the athletic department and was instramental in helping to remove an ineffective coach, his “official” reason for leaving was “the weather is too cold for this southern boy”. Obviously, the Howells are not moving for “exposure”. I think they are gracious for not saying anything negative about Central. I have a friend who moved her non athletic children from Central due to social and academic reasons. The employees of Gwinnett County School System are allowed to enroll their children into any Gwinnett School as long as they provide transportation. I believe that is not equitable for the citizens of Gwinnett. If we could all put our chilren into the school that best supported their needs and talents, without having to move, our schools would become more competitive in every department. My son was ranked 11 in the nation and his sport was an individual one in which he competed head to head at a national level. High school records in his sport were not relevant. If we did not like his coach, we left him and switched to one we did like. If a drill group did not meet his needs, we left it and attended one that did. Each time he outgrew his coach or drill group, we were able to move on to a more difficult one. Pushing athletes to compete at ever higher levels is the only way they can achieve their personal best. If my son had been in a sport where he had to depend on one coach and one set of team mates and he outgrew the program, I would change to a school were he could continue to grow. My hats off to the Howells and any other family who cares about the talents of their children enough to move the family. It is important enough and you only get one shot at doing this right. My son is in his mid twenties now and because of his talent and the elite colleges it gained him entry into, he is extremely successful.

By ISeeYa

June 30, 2007 1:38 AM | Link to this

When I was in school (early ’90s), we could transfer but it cost us a year of eligibility. But, sense the rules has changed and the family moved legally who cares… I think this move will help his son all around. Nothing against the Central Gwinnett coach but the Wheeler coach are putting “grade A” talent in top D-1 programs every year. Shareef is still playing (NBA), Jamareo D. was drafted yesterday, a few overseas and many still playing on top college teams. His players represent quality talent, good attitudes, and they stay out of trouble… Hmmmm, I would transfer my son too!!!!!!!

By let's get real...

June 30, 2007 1:48 AM | Link to this

Georgia athletics sucks… we have great athletes and good coaches but the GHSA just plain sucks… 2 words Ray Broadway. Retire and hire someone who can really run GHSA, maybe some of these issues will be addressed better!!!

By SS

July 1, 2007 10:58 PM | Link to this

It does not matter who transfers where…. Norcross will be the 3-peat STATE CHAMPS at the end of next season.

By Dawg

July 2, 2007 10:01 AM | Link to this

You people that think that the transfer game is OK for kids to play are ignorant.

I have read all the trash that you all have been saying so far, and you are clueless. Don’t lie and say that you are sending your kid to a different school because of academics. Leave academics out of it. You knew before your kid was in high school what kind of academic environment your kid was headed for - if you didn’t, you are a near-sighted moron. Transfers for academic reasons should occur, at the latest, in middle school.

One thing that no one mentioned yet is what happens to the players and coaches that are loyal to the schools where the kid just left - in this case Central Gwinnett? Coaches Allen and Roy have done a great job there, and Coach Allen has made the most out of a lot less than what he had when Richard was coming up. Howell is destined for greatness whether he is at Wheeler or at Central Gwinnett. Now, the kids and coaches that have grown up in Lawrenceville will have to settle for being middle of the pack again because their best player decided to stab them in the back.

To play the “exposure” card is complete BS. What happened is that some of his AAU posse got in Daddy’s ear and convinced him that this move was necessary.

GHSA needs to institute a 100-mile rule. If a kid transfers to a school in a 100-mile radius, the kid must sit one year. That would put an end to this crap, and instead of having the Yankees and Red Sox, you have what it’s like in the NFL with parity…a must in high-school athletics.

By vinnie

July 5, 2007 3:49 AM | Link to this

All I can say is what a bunch of cheats we have here in Georgia. The Ghsa is nothing but yes men for coaches. They do not do thier job policing rule breakers, they seem to encourage it.

By sandy

July 5, 2007 8:15 AM | Link to this

Dalton High has been recruiting for years. It looks like the GHSA would take a long hard look at their program.

By Ramon F. Reiser

July 5, 2007 5:25 PM | Link to this

I have four sons and two daughters. They are all fine athletes. I ahve coached track, boxing, and restling in the service, track in High School, and assisted for short times with high school football, cluding at what was one of the strongest programs in hte nation.

I have a tremendous respect for men such as Coaches Dallas at Westlake HS football and Coaches Eddie Coverson and McKinney in track. Yet I would, and have, changed my children’s high schools by moving when I do not feel a coach is safe or ethical or is just plain ignorant—and sadly that is a good many high school coaches.

There is nothign better tha a good coach. But when you watch the coaches sit on th bench when your son trips and rams his nose into the skull of antoher player so hard that the noted plastic surgeon says if it were not his nose that hit, both boys would have racured their skulls. When you see the coaches tell your son to walk down the stairs to the locker room until the bleed is stopped—without examining him … When you see equally dangerous and incompetent behavior by the wrestling coach, when you see some track coaches seriously abusing their athletes, well, you would be a most irresponsible parent to leave your child at that school.

YOu would not have your child continue in chemistry lab when the showers have been turned off less a student makes a mess, (Westlake HS, 1999), so why would you have your child play for an unsafe or unprofessional or unethical coach when there are a more good coahces than incompetent or dangerous ones? In fact, why would you endanger your child’s body by having himn with anyone who is not excellent? I certainly don’t allow them to study under incompetent math teachrs. Unfortunately you don’t have a choice of football coahces at a high school the way you usually have of math teachers.—although I have often moved to another school catchment area to get a better academic environment.

The only legitimate reason for denying a transfer, or even for delaying it, is if the other coach is unethically behaving—in which case, fire him/her or put him/her on probabtion.

(I have a permanently damged brachial plexus from a college wrestling coach who just wanted to win the meet. I hae played football with broken helmets—and the college coaches new it, but they wanted to win and there were no available 8 and 3/8ths helmet; it is not just a high schoo problem altho it is much harder for a principal to find good, and safe, coaches for all the sports.

That said, I admit it is not easy to become an excellent coach when your top athletes leave for more famous schools—but it is doable.

By Ramon F. Reiser

July 5, 2007 5:25 PM | Link to this

I have four sons and two daughters. They are all fine athletes. I ahve coached track, boxing, and restling in the service, track in High School, and assisted for short times with high school football, cluding at what was one of the strongest programs in hte nation.

I have a tremendous respect for men such as Coaches Dallas at Westlake HS football and Coaches Eddie Coverson and McKinney in track. Yet I would, and have, changed my children’s high schools by moving when I do not feel a coach is safe or ethical or is just plain ignorant—and sadly that is a good many high school coaches.

There is nothign better tha a good coach. But when you watch the coaches sit on th bench when your son trips and rams his nose into the skull of antoher player so hard that the noted plastic surgeon says if it were not his nose that hit, both boys would have racured their skulls. When you see the coaches tell your son to walk down the stairs to the locker room until the bleed is stopped—without examining him … When you see equally dangerous and incompetent behavior by the wrestling coach, when you see some track coaches seriously abusing their athletes, well, you would be a most irresponsible parent to leave your child at that school.

YOu would not have your child continue in chemistry lab when the showers have been turned off less a student makes a mess, (Westlake HS, 1999), so why would you have your child play for an unsafe or unprofessional or unethical coach when there are a more good coahces than incompetent or dangerous ones? In fact, why would you endanger your child’s body by having himn with anyone who is not excellent? I certainly don’t allow them to study under incompetent math teachrs. Unfortunately you don’t have a choice of football coahces at a high school the way you usually have of math teachers.—although I have often moved to another school catchment area to get a better academic environment.

The only legitimate reason for denying a transfer, or even for delaying it, is if the other coach is unethically behaving—in which case, fire him/her or put him/her on probabtion.

(I have a permanently damged brachial plexus from a college wrestling coach who just wanted to win the meet. I hae played football with broken helmets—and the college coaches new it, but they wanted to win and there were no available 8 and 3/8ths helmet; it is not just a high school problem altho it is much harder for a principal to find good, and safe, coaches for all the sports.

That said, I admit it is not easy to become an excellent coach when your top athletes leave for more famous schools—but it is doable.

By DON CARTER

July 6, 2007 8:30 AM | Link to this

No ,I do’nt believe the ghsa should step in to monitor this action of the parents who move into a different school district. I do think the school systems should not allow kids to move to a different school and STILL live in the old schools boundries.

By Tduggs

July 8, 2007 1:12 PM | Link to this

I think that transferring to another school for a better athletics is a perfectly reasonable thing to do. I mean all these transfers are trying to do is exploit oppurtunities to further their careers. Think of it this way, if transferring to a national power will get you exposure so that you can get an oppurtunity to play college ball on scholarship at a High-level program then why wouldn’t you transfer. Getting to play college ball at a great program will also increase his chances at playing professionally later on in his life. Another thing I feel I should point out is that it is perfectly fine to transfer to a school in order to recieve a higher education. So if you tell an athlete that he can’t change schools to make the most of their oppurtunities then you have to tell an honor student he can’t go to another school even though it offers higher level classes and that might land this student a valuable scholarship. Any type of transfer, academic or athletic, is just a way for a student to keep excelling and achieveng higher levels in their areas that they are successful at. And finally, people who keep dissing the Norcross’ and Wheeler’s of the state as “the rich getting richer” fail to realize that all of these programs were successgul at basketball before all the transfers came in and that all these tranfers are doing is seeking better instruction and exposure in oreder to make their careers and lives a lot better. All this is just an example as to why America is so grat because it’s the land of oppurtunity.

By Tduggs

July 8, 2007 1:29 PM | Link to this

Also Wheeler has no reason not to win the state AAAAA tournament bacause hey definitely have the most talented team, a team with Senior Sensation Dequan Jones,’09 studs Ari Stewart and Richard Howell Jr., and 2010 baller Phil Taylor.

By ????????

July 9, 2007 12:20 PM | Link to this

I don’t understand the big deal. I was bused 17 miles pass my home school for better academics. So its good for education but not for sports?