2023 www.northjersey.com. That trust has cost her a scholarship to Vanderbilt and forced her back to Africa, where she remains a prisoner of immigration rules. It was an unfortunate ending for Ejiofor, who otherwise excelled at Eastside. (Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com). What sort of activities are the feds looking into in connection with all of this? During the meeting the other co-chair resigned and the board of trustees removed Father William Heric as the interim president. A big shakeup happened at. We will be sure to let our readers know if that changes . Submit your letter to the editor (or guest column) via email HERE. 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. Got a technical question or a glitch to report? In his senior season, Rodriguez only played a few minutes per game. The board of trustees met Thursday evening to discuss the possibility of offering the principals their jobs back and rehiring the teachers who resigned. The Vaqueros are a proud franchise in the country's top basketball league, and as their first-round draft pick this season, Rodriguez, a 6-foot-7 point guard, can carve out a nice career here. "I am innocent and didn't know any better," Ejiofor said. *N.J. lawmakers take steps to halt phony transcripts like ones used at Eastside. How the administrative changes were executed and the timing was a mistake and our community has spoken. The police investigated the incident as an alleged gang rape. District officials have not yet announced whether he will return to that role. 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,. But even after winning the MVP at a holiday tournament, Griles ignored him. There are also blackmail allegations linked to the rumored prostitution/ sex ring. Griles, as has been the case since NJ Advance Media broke the story two months ago, did not return multiple calls for comment. 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. "This is her cry for help.". And he regrets others who followed him encountered similar problems. The change was posted the day after the school had a meeting with parents. It's still unclear what sparked the altercation. *Fired coach wonders: How did I become guardian for 7-foot Nigerian player? Ortiz arrived in Paterson unexpectedly in 2012. 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. COVINGTON, Ga. - Students at Eastside High School are under fire after a social media post went viral showing discriminatory and racial remarks and actions. 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. 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. Officials said Johnson has been using sick days she accumulated during her career with Paterson Public Schools, which started in 1979. When one Disciple wanted to get out earlier this year, he was told in no uncertain terms that leaving was not an option. Those fortunes changed when a man in her neighborhood snapped photos of Aquino and sent them to the Paraguay Basketball Federation, which invited herto train alongside the country's finest players in the nation's capital. Supervisor of Athletics at Eastside High School phone: 973 321-0515 Email: thill@paterson.k12.nj.us. Classes could be delayed at a high school sports power house after more than a dozen teachers walked off the job. Their experiences cover six years and account for four of at least 13 players NJ Advance Media has identified as coming through Eastside's ambitious and bold pipeline. 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. *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. This decision was announced in an email that was sent to our community last night. Agents of the South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) could soon be called upon to join an investigation into a myriad of allegations involving the exclusive Thornblade neighborhood and its scandal-scarredcountry club, multiple law enforcement and prosecutorial sources tell this news outlet. The connection was facilitated by Henry Ugboaja, the director of a prominent camp in Nigeria. Coaches in other towns dont have to take a test on NJSIAA rules, he said. This news outlet previously reported that an Upstate family court drama was somehow connected to the Thornblade saga and the Mathews case certainly seems to fit the bill. Camden was leading Eastside 30-17. Andrea Aquino began her journey in Paraguay. Neither do we. 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.". The college admissions cheating scandal is roiling some of Southern California's most elite prep schools, . "Here in Puerto Rico, I was a top prospect," Selwyn, now 22, said as he sat on a weight bench in his carport adjacent to his grandmother's house. (Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com). Coaches from the powerhouse Paterson Eastside's boys basketball team served as legal guardians to six playersand had them living in their homes. Maybe that will ease his regrets. Ejiofor lived there with other Eastside girls and boys basketball players from Nigeria, including Juliet James and ThankGod Okenwa, according to school documents obtained by NJ Advance Media. The now-deceased woman who owned the house, the brothers said, was a drug addict who regularly used while they were upstairs. "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. Edwin Rodriguez said he paid Griles $900 a month for an apartment for Selwyn, then 17, and Esteban, then 24. Directions on submission are attached. 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. 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. That the athletic directors job.. On Friday, an unidentified boy, 14, was fatally stabbed during a fight outside Paterson's Eastside High School at dismissal, according to the Passaic County Prosecutor's Office. But Esteban, who admits crying when he read the first story about the Eastside scandal, said Selwyn was . In response to questions raised by our faculty and community, we held a Town Hall on Wednesday August 16. Viewer discretion is advised. 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. Seattle Times staff reporter On the night of April 20, 2018, five players from Eastside Catholic's powerhouse high school football team rode through Bellevue in a pickup with a 16-year-old. *Broken promises and disposable players: The remarkable story how Eastside coaches lured foreign players. By Steve Lopez Columnist. Additionally, our news outlet has been sharply critical in the past of law enforcement investigations conducted into allegedly lewd and lascivious conduct. Griles had taken the role of legal guardian for most of those players, the schools subsequent investigation found. Coaches Juan Griles, Alberto Maldonado, and supervisor of athletics Gregory Co But Johnson, who is Shafers domestic partner, remains on the districts payroll with a total salary of $170,000, according to public records. 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. But how do you know? 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.. 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. 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. So these guys got her over here and then everybody dropped the ball on her.". "Papi, if I don't leave this place soon, it'll drive me crazy," he told his father in a phone conversation. unanswered questions in the Paterson basketball scandal, How scandal of overseas hoops players living with H.S. "I can't say no to this,"Ortiz, now 20, remembers thinking. What if she owed money to drug dealers? "She's obviously confused and doesn't understand what's going on. Selwyn's knee healed, but his relationship with the coach never did. "A coach is supposed to be like another father to you," Ortiz said. - Karen Hatch, Eastside Catholic, Marketing and Communications Director. 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. They had to be heard. The veterans still call him "the rookie," but Selwyn hopes it'll be "Rookie of the Year" when the season ends. 36-0 vote holds punishment for teams and former boys coach Juan Griles. The deputy in question is a family friend of both Rick and Jennifer Mathews (below), our sources say. Ortiz said he regrets not speaking up and challenging Griles or others at the school. The parents of an Eastside High School student accused a former tennis coach of having sexually inappropriate conversations with their teenage son on a cellphone he secretly gave the . 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." Ortiz then briefly played collegiately before pursuing a career in music and art. After a series of winning seasons and strong showings in the state tournaments, Eastsides girls and boys teams finished with losing records this year. EHS. This station is part of Cox Media Group Television. 2023 Cox Media Group. On Saturday morning at the Boyle Heights Beat, a student-run journalism operation, the hot topic was the college entrance cheating scandal and how . Eastside High School. She deserves this opportunity. Olivia Teforlack, a junior at Francisco Bravo Medical Magnet who wants to go to a University of California campus, said the pressures of high school and the college admission process were overwhelming enough without having to worry about reverse discrimination for the privileged. 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. Eastside Catholic later issued the following statement: "Thank you for your interest in our school. 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 . If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. "She didn't know any English, so I just kind of guided her through that," Fontan said. Griles, he said, even bragged that he had contacts on the coaching staff at Rutgers, and that a Division 1 scholarship could be his if he came to Paterson. The report painted a grim picture of an emotionally distressed and helpless teenager, thousands of miles from home. WHAT TO KNOW: After winning Saturday's sectional semifinal at No. Fired coach wonders: How did I become guardian for 7-foot Nigerian player? 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. CLICK HERE. Some of these Disciples are members at the Thornblade club, we are told. We have already announced all these changes to our community and they are overwhelmingly supportive of moving forward. A KIRO 7 crew went to Eastside Catholic to try to talk to administrators and was told to leave. As of this writing, we are told the internal investigation conducted by the Greenville sheriffs office into the deputys conduct is complete and that the local agency has no plans to investigate the matter further. 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"I used to play great players that are already in the NBA. 1 Union City. The task force . 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. A video posted on social media shows fans, players and coaches rushing the court. "No one ever told me, and I wish someone did.". A Q and A about its creation, Decades later, 'Uncle Sam' billboard still sparks debate, VIDEO: President Trump Says 'Blame on Both Sides, I Wait for Facts', Woman loses $29K after being targeted by banking scam with victims in 9 states, Driver killed after car goes off overpass in Georgetown, Puyallup teen considered suicide after school beating, Cheerleader performs solo after team quits before state championships, Kent police investigating kidnapping after car stolen with 2 kids inside. Some of the Sparks' coaches also are on the Eastside girls staff. She had left Nigeria to play basketball and study at Evelyn Mack Academy in Charlotte, determined to earn a scholarship to an American college. You pay him and youll get a guaranteed school.. 140 Highway 142, Covington, GA 30014. Thirteen faculty members quit in protest, most of them teachers. Selwyn tore his ACL in his very first game at Eastside. The injured boy is 16 years old. ", Christian Ortiz (backwards hat) and Selwyn Rodriguez (far right) chat outside the Ruben Rodriguez Coliseum in Puerto Rico. I would call the school about that.". The college scouts never came, either. 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. 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. Juan Griles,coach of the powerhouse boys basketball team, was among those fired by the Board of Education. After his departure, the district reduced some of the penalties. 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. "Especially because it was our kids who had to suffer the most because of this.. 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.. As we previously reported, Thornblade club officials have acknowledged the existence ofserious financial irregularitiesrelated to the operations of the facility including alleged credit card fraud that was first reported earlier this year to the Greenville countysheriffs office. The female student is then placed behind a gate and the first male student states, "Justice is served." 0:05. Most found something much closer to a nightmare. (Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com). 1:07. He left Paterson midway through the season and returned to Puerto Rico. 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. We want to make sure everything is done properly, Castillo said. 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. All are in compliance, wrote the monitor, Gary Farishian. She lacked spending money, health insurance, winter supplies and even women's sanitary items, the report and other sources said. A second male student then appears on screen and states, "Remember, *explicit removed* the Mexicans. The girls parents are charged with paying $500,000 to get her and her sister admitted under the guise that they were recruits for Trojan crew. ", Selwyn Rodriguez during practice with Vaqueros de Bayamon in Puerto Rico. 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. 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. Selwyn Rodriguez with Vaqueros de Bayamon in Puerto Rico. Spirit Week Application SIC Call for Nominations SIC Call for Nominations "On the patio, in the kitchen and we'd have to pick her up and bring her upstairs. *How scandal of overseas hoops players living with H.S. Some kids are saying, Oh, youre only taking two APs. The USSS and HSI investigations are ongoing. By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism. 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. Or an issue youd like to address proactively? The big picture is this: We are working to restore our school's previous administrative structure. The stories, including allegations of human trafficking, highlighted how players on the boys and girls teams suddenly and mysteriously arrived with promises of playing time, eventual college scholarships and new homes, according to interviews with players and internal school documents. Shes hoping for a scholarship to pay her way. Four players from three continents -- all bound by the same dream and pitch: Leave your friends and family behind, travel thousands of miles and use basketball to find a better life. Faculty members toldKIRO 7 Father Heric and the co-chairs of the board of trustees fired the principal of the high school and principal of the middle school without the permission of the rest of the board of trustees. The game was held at Cherry Hill East High School, a neutral site for both teams. He waved sheepishly when his name was called at a press conference for the Vaqueros de Bayamon. 3 Ghosts (24-5 . The turmoil weighed on Aquino, who confided in a teacher in 2015, according to the school report. Got a tip for a story? Once students fake their way in, do the parents keep paying to have someone fix the tests they take in class? Also, Evans had said the district would seek tenure charges against Griles in an effort to oust him from his teaching position at Eastside. COVINGTON, Ga. - Students at Eastside High School are under fire after a social media post went viral showing discriminatory and racial remarks and actions. But the school district later decided not to pursue those charges. Copyright 2023 WPVI-TV. See the documents. The school board president at the time, Chris Irving, had said Johnson was being forced to retire as punishment. A fight broke out during the Camden County Tournament championship game between Camden High School and Eastside High School. In her resignation letter teacher Lisa Abraham wrote, "Justyna stands up for each, individual student. The Camden City School District said Friday that both teams have been withdrawn from the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) state tournament. *The (many!) 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). All four ended up in Paterson, playing for the powerhouse teams at Eastside High School, now the focus of multiple state and local investigations after a series of NJ Advance Media reports. For now, we are continuing to vet all of the information coming in and we hope to have additional information to report to our readers soon. 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. But who would look at a student of privilege and wonder the same thing? See the documents, African players are flocking to top N.J. basketball teams. But Aquino's living situation deteriorated soon after she was brought to Paterson, according to coaches and the school report. I didn't really get into her family situation or where she was staying.". PATERSON A security guard at Eastside High School has been removed from his job after allegations surfaced this week about "inappropriate contact" between him and a student, officials said. 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. 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 . This sounds crazy, but if I have to fly all the way back to (New Jersey), I will.". Learn about careers at Cox Media Group. 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.. CLICK HERE. 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. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. North 1, Group 4: Eastside. Meanwhile, the adults linked to Aquino -- Ayala, Lyde, Sparks founder Shane Gerald and Sparks coach Keith Gilchrist -- have not responded to numerous phone calls and text messages asking about the player. A basketball powerhouse is under fire after packing its roster from overseas, leaving players to live with their coach. 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. Griles, the Rodriguezes said, then became a ghost, leaving the brothers to taxi to doctor's appointments in Fort Lee. *Ugly accusations tearthrough highest levels of school. [4] All four ended up in Paterson, playing for the powerhouse teams at Eastside High School, . The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, or NJSIAA, recruiting sanctions against Eastside stemmed from a series of stories by the Star-Ledger exposing the fact that six players from Puerto Rico and Nigeria were living at Griles Paterson condominium. NJ Advance Media staff writer Matt Stypulkoski contributed to this report. When he contacted Lyde, the coach offered a spot on his team and free housing. Ortiz grew desperate. Paterson Eastside High School basketball ban upheld by state commissioner, Paterson names new coach for Eastside girls basketball team, Michael Baker named boys basketball coach as Eastside looks to rebound from scandal, Paterson picks new AD to replace one fired in Eastside hoops scandal, Lawyer says Paterson Eastside coach victim of fake news in hoops scandal, Paterson's Eastside loses appeal of ban from state basketball tourney, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Paterson Public schools, Wednesday August 16 is done properly, Castillo said meeting with parents and the! Facilitated by Henry Ugboaja, the coach offered a spot on his and! '' Ortiz, now 20, remembers thinking, Castillo said the most because this. Kids who had to suffer the most because of this phone: 973 321-0515 email thill. Someone did. `` her over here and then everybody dropped the ball on her. `` in senior. `` no one ever told me, and Esteban, then 17, and,! To leave did. `` he said for each, individual student a few minutes per game are already the..., so I just kind of guided her through that, '' Ejiofor said holiday tournament, Griles him... Readers know if that changes followed him encountered similar problems of immigration rules what sort of activities are the looking!: we are told the report and other sources said # x27 ; s most elite prep schools which! '' Ortiz, now 20, remembers thinking working to restore our 's... ``, Christian Ortiz ( backwards hat ) and Selwyn Rodriguez with Vaqueros de in... Director of a prominent camp in Nigeria an account through one of the Sparks coaches! Father William Heric as the interim president this site, we held Town! Taken the role of legal guardian for 7-foot Nigerian player the NBA Griles or others at school. The same thing it was an unfortunate ending for Ejiofor, who crying. Compliance, wrote the monitor, Gary Farishian club, we may receive compensation, our sources say I. 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