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 . 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. "'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 . 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. No at least not in our view. She said she had secured a student visa and Form I-20, which had been signed by officials at the North Carolina school. Ejiofor still hopes to return to the U.S. and pursue her dreams, but she said she has been denied a new visa three times. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Should they lose their jobs? The college admissions cheating scandal is roiling some of Southern California's most elite prep schools, . unanswered questions in the Paterson basketball scandal, How scandal of overseas hoops players living with H.S. *NJSIAA demands 'full accounting' from hoops power with several overseas players. - Karen Hatch, Eastside Catholic, Marketing and Communications Director. The change was posted the day after the school had a meeting with parents. Selwyn and Esteban added they rarely left that room because they feared what was happening downstairs. COVINGTON, Ga. - Students at Eastside High School are under fire after a social media post went viral showing discriminatory and racial remarks and actions. A big shakeup happened at Eastside Catholic after two principals were fired and 13 faculty members quit in protest. All rights reserved. Having said all of that, there are criminal statutes on the books which protect minors in this state from being exploited and prevent adults from contributing to their delinquency. According to our sources, the Thornblade saga has elements that could potentially fall under both of these categories. Lopez is the author most recently of Independence Day: What I Learned About Retirement, From Some Whove Done It and Some Who Never Will. His book The Soloist, inspired by his columns on his relationship with a Juilliard-trained homeless person, was a Los Angeles Times and New York Times best-seller, winner of the PEN USA Literary Award for Non-Fiction, and the subject of a Dream Works movie by the same name. 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. 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. Andrea Aquino was treated like a curiosity in Caacupe, Paraguay, according to local coaches and an article on ESPN.com. EHS. The kinds of people their own parents work for. Or an issue youd like to address proactively? "She's a mature, strong kid and she's hanging in there," Vanderbilt head coach Stephanie Smith said earlier this year. 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. *State vows to crack down on international player recruiting. In his senior season, Rodriguez only played a few minutes per game. Excellence for All Students Through Strong Relationships & Instructional Strategies Delivered by Effective Educators. The split-level home sits on a congested street, about six blocks from Eastside. 0:00. The first one, a senior named Luis, knew the name of the cheating scandals mastermind. What sort of proximity are we talking about? 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. There are also blackmail allegations linked to the rumored prostitution/ sex ring. Im taking three or four. Well good for you, but I dont want to die, said Olivia, who joins clubs and is on the cheer squad to make her college application more appealing. 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. *Broken promises and disposable players: The remarkable story how Eastside coaches lured foreign players. Gregory Cooper, the Eastside athletic director cut loose, says he was an 'easy target' and made a scapegoat. What sort of activities are the feds looking into in connection with all of this? Ayala promised to be the point of contact and to "make sure Andrea has everything that she needs," the report said. He is heard saying, "This is what happens when you cross the border illegally." While membership obviously had its privileges, the club apparently had a strict no cancellation policy. It was an unfortunate ending for Ejiofor, who otherwise excelled at Eastside. But when she landed in Queens, Ejiofor was dealt an immediate and unimaginable surprise: North Carolina was out and she was headed to New Jersey and a school called Paterson Eastside. The districts action plan also created a policy requiring all students to register for school at the districts central headquarters. 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. Viewer discretion is advised. 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. There are also blackmail allegations linked to the rumored prostitution/ sex ring. A care package loaded with supplies from his mother, sent to the address in Somerset, never appeared, either. I am sure we can agree that getting our kids back to school and focused on their studies, their friendships and their future's is the important goal, and we look forward to doing just that.". But who would look at a student of privilege and wonder the same thing? CHERRY HILL, New Jersey (WPVI) -- An altercation broke out Thursday night in the middle of a high school basketball game in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. 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. Legislation would ban buying, selling, makingor altering a transcript with the intent to deceive. Teachers are concerned those athletes are not being supported academically. Association already has promised a rule change in response to international recruiting of players. But their jobs dont cover all the bills, Andrea said, so when her mother gets home after her Friday night shift, she prepares the pupusas, then steals an hour of sleep before selling them Saturday morning with Andreas 14-year-old sister. The decision was made yesterday to reverse these changes and go back to the previous structure. 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. School is supposed to start August 23, but on Friday the school confirmed classes will be postponed one week and start August 30. *Fired coach wonders: How did I become guardian for 7-foot Nigerian player? 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. 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. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. One student, Bravo junior Andy Garcia, hadnt said much during the discussion. A basketball powerhouse is under fire after packing its roster from overseas, leaving players to live with their coach. 0:05. "The post included a video with offensive content that will not be tolerated. But there are far more serious allegations being probed by agents of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)s special investigations unit including the alleged activities of a group of men who apparently refer to themselves as The Disciples.. Today, nearly two years after arriving in Paterson, Aquino's living situation has steadied, according to school officials. Thornblade Saga: Could SLED Join Investigation? He retired at the end of June. CLICK HERE. *Hoops power packs roster from overseas; state questions safety of teens living with coach. Griles, the Rodriguezes said, was angry Selwyn left practice early to receive an academic award. This sounds crazy, but if I have to fly all the way back to (New Jersey), I will.". "Yesterday we were made aware of an inappropriate post on social media made by students at Eastside High School," Davis told The Covington News. "We just needed one college scout to come and visit him, but nobody ever came. During the meeting the other co-chair resigned and the board of trustees removed Father William Heric as the interim president. Some of the Sparks' coaches also are on the Eastside girls staff. Support NJ.com, Matthew Stanmyre and Steve Politi | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, Juan Griles, the basketball coach at Eastside. *Troubling new questions, including concerns of human trafficking, broadside Eastside boys and girls programs. Now, the state wants answers as the district takes action. It didn't take long to realize the living situation wouldn't match the promises. Fired coach wonders: How did I become guardian for 7-foot Nigerian player? 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). 36-0 vote holds punishment for teams and former boys coach Juan Griles. He came to New Jersey that fall, just before basketball season began, and moved into a house where Griles lived in Somerset. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. News never stops. Now, the state is taking a closer look at how they got here. 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. 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! Good question. The school released the following statement Friday afternoon: "We made and announced administrative changes on August 2. Donnie Evans was Patersons schools superintendent when the district imposed disciplinary action against Eastside staff members in April 2017. "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. ", Christian Ortiz (backwards hat) and Selwyn Rodriguez (far right) chat outside the Ruben Rodriguez Coliseum in Puerto Rico. 1 pick in the NBA Draft. Get more of Steve Lopezs work and follow him on Twitter @LATstevelopez. Former Supreme Court justice was paid$900 each time he traveled from South Jersey to the Passaic County school. The connection was facilitated by Henry Ugboaja, the director of a prominent camp in Nigeria. Under his suspension, Lyde is eligible to resume coaching the Eastside girls team next season. 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. Two days later, Mathews issued a statement through his attorney confirming our reporting. It happened during the Camden County. "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. Frame. After starting high school that spring, Aquino, who now stands 6-9, joined the powerhouse New Jersey Sparks AAU program. Christian Ortiz and his father, William, heard journalists from New Jersey were in Puerto Rico for a story on Eastside and drove 90 minutes from their home for an audience. It happened during the Camden County Tournament Championship game between Camden High School and Eastside High School. He told me he was going to get it fixed, but I couldn't handle that any more. 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. He was visiting family in Queens and playing for a club team in a tournament at Eastside. *15 questions we still want answered after taxpayer-funded special report. 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. But the player stayed several months, and it was Lyde -- the Eastside girls coach -- who provided money for school uniforms and other living expenses, according to the employee, who asked not to be identified for fear of punishment from Paterson officials. 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. 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. The video recording was sent via Snapchat to a lot of their buddies at Eastside Catholic and other Eastside high schools. The high and mighty went as low as they could go, and it did not play well in Boyle Heights. 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. On Saturday morning at the Boyle Heights Beat, a student-run journalism operation, the hot topic was the college entrance cheating scandal and how to craft stories about it for the groups newspaper and radio show. ", "As I'm sure you can understand, I am not able to provide specific personnel details. What if they came knocking on the door?". The smell of marijuana often wafted into their room, and they feared arguments downstairs eventually would escalate. I found out in late June of this year that my wife, Jennifer Mathews, had engaged in multiple extramarital activities, Mathews said in the statement. Carol said she was talking to her father about the scandal, and they wondered where the cheating stopped. 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. According to our sources, Mathews was grilled for more than three hours by investigators. She wants to major in psychology and build a career helping students who feel as stressed as she does now. We came to Eastside on a very big lie.". Ortiz left Somerset and moved in with the Rodriguezes in their apartment in downtown Paterson. This decision was announced in an email that was sent to our community last night. Home. 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. 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. We will be sure to let our readers know if that changes . Ortiz arrived in Paterson unexpectedly in 2012. 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. In the meantime, we are told half of Greenville is lawyered up in response to our ongoing reporting on the Thornblade saga prompting several of our sources to warn us to be careful how we proceed. 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. State Sen. Richard Codey (D-Essex) called on Attorney General Christopher Porrino to investigate Paterson Eastside. From news that sixoverseas players were living with the boys coach to the discovery of an international pipeline funneling athletes to Paterson since 2013 and the waves of fallout pounding the school and its officials, here's the reporting of Steve Politi and Matt Stanmyre: *The Fast Break: How final 2 players escaped Eastside. All rights reserved (About Us). 2023 Cox Media Group. The districts investigation last year had found that some players involved in the scandal had registered at Eastside, rather than through traditional channels. 0:57. 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. Got a technical question or a glitch to report? 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). Ejiofor said the Jordans "did (their) best to make sure I was okay and comfortable. Selwyn Rodriguez never imagined a basketball journey that included meeting reporters in front of a giantbottle of seasoning salt. 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 . coach blew up. Thanks To Our Sponsors. "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. But over here, you're like a god.". Justice Wallace interviewed 29 people for his report -- 28 Patersonemployees and 1 current player. Given the broad investigatory powers this federal agency possesses when it comes to all manner of cybercrime there is literally no telling what facets of this saga it could be probing. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. See the documents. 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. The school serves the city's Ironbound neighborhood. Father Heric will go back to being the school chaplain. "Papi, if I don't leave this place soon, it'll drive me crazy," he told his father in a phone conversation. A KIRO 7 crew went to Eastside Catholic to try to talk to administrators and was told to leave. *School suspends hoops coach who had 6 overseas players living with him. 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. She had left Nigeria to play basketball and study at Evelyn Mack Academy in Charlotte, determined to earn a scholarship to an American college. He did not stick around for answers. ", "Here I am sitting there watching her. I slept in the kitchen in front of the stove to stay warm.". ", "I'm the victim because I'm the one who is out of school for six months," Ejiofor said last month. 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,. Here's why. 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.. All are in compliance, wrote the monitor, Gary Farishian. Three employees fired, two others disciplined. We have also rescheduled our back-to-school dates to allow us to refocus on the classroom and prepare adequately. Off the court, Ejiofor said she lived in a home on East 22nd Street owned by Shirley Jordan, whose daughter, Natalie, is a district teacher and an Eastside track coach. *The (many!) The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Eastside HS Athletic Department Contacts downloadable PDF . 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. Ortiz said he regrets not speaking up and challenging Griles or others at the school. "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. In addition, the changes were announced very close to the start of the school year, which caused a lot of consternation. According to our sources, the deputy in question was not disciplined by the sheriffs office however he is likely to be questioned by HSI regarding his alleged knowledge of the various scandals and proximity to some of its protagonists. We heard strong opposition to the changes from both the faculty and our community. "No one ever told me, and I wish someone did.". In January, the NJSIAA representative assigned to monitor Patersons athletics program sent the district a letter saying he had checked the basketball roster against eligibility lists and transfer records. Officials said Johnson has been using sick days she accumulated during her career with Paterson Public Schools, which started in 1979. See the documents, African players are flocking to top N.J. basketball teams. Griles, Ortiz said, refused to stop for food after practice even after he repeatedly complained he was hungry. Most found something much closer to a nightmare. In April 2015, the teenager moved to New Jersey, using a visa issued for a New York-based private school, the document said. She planned to study pharmacology at Vanderbilt. The now-deceased woman who owned the house, the brothers said, was a drug addict who regularly used while they were upstairs. 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. But there he was Wednesday in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, at a massive Goya factory. 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 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. 140 Highway 142, Covington, GA 30014. The apartment was an attic in a Paterson house without heat or air conditioning, the Rodriguezes said. Investigators were also looking to interview several current and former students at Eastside High School as well as several current and former employees of the Thornblade Club, per one of our previous reports. 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. 0:49. Again, though, we are told HSI is looking to question the deputy in connection with its investigation. "It's very unfortunate that she's caught up in the middle of something like this.". In the fall of 2015, officials from her high school filed a report to the state Division of Child Protection and Permanency (formerly the Department of Youth and Family Services). This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. He waved sheepishly when his name was called at a press conference for the Vaqueros de Bayamon. Griles, who played professionally in Puerto Rico and owned businesses there, told the family Rodriguez would get to face Towns, who played scholastically at St. Joseph's in Metuchen, and prove he was better. Aquino was moved to a Prospect Park apartment with a district employee, an arrangement that "was supposed to last a couple weeks." The big picture is this: We are working to restore our school's previous administrative structure. "It was hell," Ortiz said. 701. 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. The Office of the Attorney General is reaching out to staffers at Eastside. ", *Coaches, athletic director fired as fallout spreads. Rodriguez had done well in the classroom and earned a scholarship offer to play volleyball at Purdue University. Some turn down out-of-state offers because their parents need them to help out at home, or because of a fear of leaving California at a time of anti-immigrant fervor and uncertainty about whether Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals protections will continue. Theres the back door, which [is] you pull strings and do donations and then theres the side door, which he kind of created. Ejiofor, then 15, had made her own arrangements, navigating the complicated immigration process. After his departure, the district reduced some of the penalties. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. "We would come back from the theater or wherever and we found that woman on the ground many times," Esteban said. He asked to play with the junior varsity just to prove he belonged. We are in the process of hiring an interim president. After that, theres figuring out how to pay for it.