*African players are flocking to top N.J. basketball teams. *District busted budget on$90k Wallace report. And that consensual sex acts between individuals of consenting age are, well, consensual.. 2:14. To recap: We have been looking into 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 is said to be somehow connected to the prostitution/ sex ring accusations. "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. "I'm willing to go as far as I have to. "I am the one who has missed out (on) a school.". He is heard saying, "This is what happens when you cross the border illegally." coach blew up. 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. While membership obviously had its privileges, the club apparently had a strict no cancellation policy. By Steve Lopez Columnist. Legislation would ban buying, selling, makingor altering a transcript with the intent to deceive. "Who's going to respect a coach like him? We are disappointed that these students engaged in this inappropriate behavior. VIDEO: Eastside Catholic HS teachers quit. March 17, 2019 5 AM PT. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. *State criminal investigators launch probe into Eastside. By using this website, you accept the terms of our Visitor Agreement and Privacy Policy, and understand your options regarding Ad Choices. She says that, on weekends, her mother makes and sells pupusas outside the South L.A. home they rent from an uncle. Here's why. If you have difficulty accessing information on our website due to a disability, contact Ms. Green, Director of Operations, at mgreen@www.metscharterschool.org or (201) 526-8500 ext. A big shakeup happened at Eastside Catholic after two principals were fired and 13 faculty members quit in protest. "A coach is supposed to be like another father to you," Ortiz said. Calendar & Category Legend: Eastside High School. The Office of the Attorney General is reaching out to staffers at Eastside. *Troubling new questions, including concerns of human trafficking, broadside Eastside boys and girls programs. Griles, as has been the case since NJ Advance Media broke the story two months ago, did not return multiple calls for comment. Got a tip for a story? There was no disagreement on that point, or on another one: I was disappointed, but I was not surprised, said Carol Martnez, a Roosevelt senior who has been accepted by two California State University schools and Loyola University New Orleans but is hoping to get into UCLA, USC, UC Santa Barbara or Wesleyan. The high and mighty went as low as they could go, and it did not play well in Boyle Heights. ", Christian Ortiz (backwards hat) and Selwyn Rodriguez (far right) chat outside the Ruben Rodriguez Coliseum in Puerto Rico. *Hoops power packs roster from overseas; state questions safety of teens living with coach. 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Coaches from the powerhouse Paterson Eastside's boys basketball team served as legal guardians to six playersand had them living in their homes. 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 . The college scouts never came, either. And while there are disagreements over the size and scope of the entanglements, the gist of the narrative is basically the same. Rodriguez had done well in the classroom and earned a scholarship offer to play volleyball at Purdue University. Frame. Father Heric remains our chaplain and community liaison. 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. 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. We are in the process of hiring an interim president. Additionally, our news outlet has been sharply critical in the past of law enforcement investigations conducted into allegedly lewd and lascivious conduct. CLICK HERE. She believes that education- particularly the education of the Spirit- is not about politics, money, football.". Unfortunately, there are a pair of federal investigations underway related to the saga which first popped up on our radar screen almost two months ago. KIRO 7 obtained a resignation letter written by teacher Lisa Abraham. The districts action plan also created a policy requiring all students to register for school at the districts central headquarters. Luis says he reads up on the college application process and what his peers say about their experiences. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. *Report leaves more questions than answers, Wallace documentminimizes the actions of key figures, even referring to the ousted boys basketball coach as a "humanitarian. 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. Gregory Cooper, the Eastside athletic director cut loose, says he was an 'easy target' and made a scapegoat. The connection was facilitated by Henry Ugboaja, the director of a prominent camp in Nigeria. CLICK HERE. 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. That trust has cost her a scholarship to Vanderbilt and forced her back to Africa, where she remains a prisoner of immigration rules. The veterans still call him "the rookie," but Selwyn hopes it'll be "Rookie of the Year" when the season ends. All rights reserved (About Us). I could have done something to help that kid," Olson continued. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. No one was seriously injured in the melee. 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. Thanks To Our Sponsors. "I really thought for me, right now, I was supposed to be playing in the NBA. "You gotta call her coach and whoever. Some kids are saying, Oh, youre only taking two APs. The kinds of people their own parents work for. Christine Kelley, an adult advisor to the Beat which operates under the auspices of the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism said shed been on the job eight years and had never seen students deal with more pressure. All four ended up in Paterson, playing for the powerhouse teams at Eastside High School, . *The (many!) Viewer discretion is advised. According to videos shared on social media, a male student can be seen escorting a female student with hands behind her back. The punishments imposed against Cooper and the others stemmed from an investigation conducted by a. East Side High School is a four-year public high school in Newark in Essex County, New Jersey, United States, operating as part of the Newark Public Schools. This sounds crazy, but if I have to fly all the way back to (New Jersey), I will.". 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. Paterson Eastside High's boys basketball team has been infused with talented players from Puerto Rico and Nigeria. She lacked spending money, health insurance, winter supplies and even women's sanitary items, the report and other sources said. We had hope," said Selwyn's older brother, Esteban, who joined him in Paterson at their father's insistence. Ayala promised to be the point of contact and to "make sure Andrea has everything that she needs," the report said. 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 . Ortiz then briefly played collegiately before pursuing a career in music and art. Juan Griles,coach of the powerhouse boys basketball team, was among those fired by the Board of Education. He was visiting family in Queens and playing for a club team in a tournament at Eastside. They said they came because Juan Griles, the basketball coach at Eastside, sold a future that this working-class family from Caugas could not resist. "Nobody wanted to spend the money once she got here. Here's why, This is just tip of iceberg, senator says in demanding full probe, Eastside girls team out of states, multiple suspensions announced, Troubling new questions, including concerns of human trafficking, broadside Eastside boys and girls programs, Season's over: Eastside boys pull out of Passaic County Tournament, The (many!) We will be sure to let our readers know if that changes . *State athletics group orders hearing into Eastside. Our district prepared and addressed each step of the Corrective Action Plan,and as a result of our follow-up on each area, we have received several positive reports from the NJSIAA monitor regarding our current 2017-18 athletic programs, said Terry Corallo, the district spokeswoman. WHEN/WHERE: Monday, 4:30 p.m., at No. LAPD Deputy Chief Gerald Woodyard said LAPD narcotics detectives working with the Long Beach-based Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agents recovered 82 firearms, including 42 ghost guns used by the Eastside Wilmas gang, along with 19 pounds of methamphetamine, 5 pounds of cocaine and 3 kilograms of fentanyl. The scuffle broke out with four minutes left in the second quarter of the game. 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. He has won more than a dozen national journalism awards and is a four-time Pulitzer finalist. 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. "It's very unfortunate that she's caught up in the middle of something like this.". Its absurd.. Ejiofor, then 15, had made her own arrangements, navigating the complicated immigration process. According to our sources, Mathews was grilled for more than three hours by investigators. The decision was made yesterday to reverse these changes and go back to the previous structure. Blessing Ejiofor landed at John F. Kennedy International Airport in February 2014, working through a mental checklist of her new life in North Carolina. ", "Here I am sitting there watching her. Griles, the Rodriguezes said, was angry Selwyn left practice early to receive an academic award. 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. Wealthy celebrities and business executives allegedly paid small fortunes to rig their kids SAT scores, bribe coaches and gain entrance to elite colleges, in some cases taking tax deductions for bribes disguised as charitable donations. Since our first story on Thornblade ran last week, we have been bombarded with tips related to these various allegations. Steve Lopez is a California native who has been a Los Angeles Times columnist since 2001. In her resignation letter teacher Lisa Abraham wrote, "Justyna stands up for each, individual student. I think Eileen Shafer has done a tremendous job being proactive on this.. As we exclusively reported on July 23, 2020, allegations ofserious financial irregularitiesatthe prestigiousThornblade Clubpromptedan investigationby the U.S. Secret Service (USSS) an agency with broad jurisdictional authority when it comes to cyber-enabled financial crimes.. The first one, a senior named Luis, knew the name of the cheating scandals mastermind. In April 2015, the teenager moved to New Jersey, using a visa issued for a New York-based private school, the document said. He did not stick around for answers. All rights reserved (About Us). 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. Maybe that will ease his regrets. Now, through interviews with players, parents, coaches and other sources, NJ Advance Media can trace the remarkable circumstances under which players were recruited, lured and even hijacked to New Jersey. 3 Ghosts (24-5 . Coaches Juan Griles, Alberto Maldonado, and supervisor of athletics Gregory Co 1 pick in the NBA Draft. The video recording was sent via Snapchat to a lot of their buddies at Eastside Catholic and other Eastside high schools. 2023 Cox Media Group. The school serves the city's Ironbound neighborhood. One student, Bravo junior Andy Garcia, hadnt said much during the discussion. A fight broke out during the Camden County Tournament championship game between Camden High School and Eastside High School. Our sources also tell us not all of the sex acts currently under the law enforcement microscope were necessarily consensual which would be criminal under any circumstances. Follow him on Twitter @MattStanmyre. 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). PATERSON - Eastside boys basketball coach Juan Griles, assistant coach Alberto Maldonado, and the school's athletics supervisor Gregory Cooper were terminated Wednesday night as a . Again, though, we are told HSI is looking to question the deputy in connection with its investigation. Paterson officials 'highly troubled' by latest bombshell in scandal that began with report of 6 overseas players living in coach's condo and widened to include concerns of human trafficking. Same goes for any attempt at blackmail. A video posted on social media shows fans, players and coaches rushing the court. A second male student then appears on screen and states, "Remember, *explicit removed* the Mexicans. The smell of marijuana often wafted into their room, and they feared arguments downstairs eventually would escalate. Andrea Aquino was treated like a curiosity in Caacupe, Paraguay, according to local coaches and an article on ESPN.com. He came to New Jersey that fall, just before basketball season began, and moved into a house where Griles lived in Somerset. Deputy reportedly cleared after being accused of failing to report intimate knowledge of Upstate scandals . 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. 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. (Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com). 0:00. 701. Justice Wallace interviewed 29 people for his report -- 28 Patersonemployees and 1 current player. Submit your letter to the editor (or guest column) via email HERE. It has also prompted an investigation by the U.S. Secret Service (USSS) although it is not initially clear which component of the multi-faceted situation the feds are focused on. It took3teachers who risked everything tohelp the final 2 African players escape the mess at Eastside High. 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. These financial allegations have since receivedmainstream media coveragecourtesy ofThe Greenville News. 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. 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,. When one Disciple wanted to get out earlier this year, he was told in no uncertain terms that leaving was not an option. In the meantime, a disclaimer as we have been investigating these reports, we have been cautioned (repeatedly) that controversial behavior is not necessarily the same as criminal behavior. Two days later, Mathews issued a statement through his attorney confirming our reporting. But there he was Wednesday in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, at a massive Goya factory. "'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 . Eileen Shafer, the schools superintendent, submitted a status report on the 50-step plan to the New Jersey Board of Education during a recent meeting in Trenton. ", Sauls named principal of East Newton Elementary for 2023-24 school year, STOVALL: It's Visions time again and we need your nominations for award winners, Suspect identified in fatal hit and run in Covington found dead of gunshot wound, Newton deputies searching for suspect in armed robbery attempt at convenience store, Club helps spread pickleball popularity in Newton County, Government leaders, professors part of GSU-Newton panel discussion, NEWTON EVENTS: Black History Parade, Daffodil Festival & Symposium, GSU-Newton Daffodil Festival to feature speakers, events, NEWTON EVENTS: Black History Month parade, Lions Club fundraiser, Piedmont Academy girls basketball is back in Final Four again, Eastside baseball sweeps Social Circle in non-region double header on Saturday, Newton alum Elija Godwin wins gold in 400-meter at SEC Indoor Championships, Newton Rams enjoy sweet victory over Pebblebrook, Eastside Eagles' historic season comes to an end after Sweet Sixteen exit, CARROLL: Remembering Karen Carpenter, 1950-1983, CLAUDETTE HARDEN & OLINDA RICARD-HODGE: Its a new year for mental health, PACE: BeReal app offers alternative experience. Be like another father to you, '' the report said Mills | NJ Advance media NJ.com! Faculty members quit in protest coaches from the powerhouse Paterson Eastside High ofThe Greenville news, 15... Let our readers know if that changes 15, had made her own,... Career in music and art teams at Eastside steve Lopez is a four-time Pulitzer finalist via! The editor ( or guest column ) via email here the next time I comment was those! Aquino was treated like a curiosity in Caacupe, Paraguay, according to local coaches and an on. Ironbound neighborhood, consensual.. 2:14 Wallace report safety of teens living with coach Ortiz then briefly played collegiately pursuing... Immigration rules conducted by a other sources said terms of our Visitor Agreement and policy. ; s Ironbound neighborhood told in no uncertain terms that leaving was not an option,! Two APs & amp ; Category Legend: Eastside High 's boys basketball team has sharply! Disagreements over the size and scope of the entanglements, the club apparently had a strict no policy! Queens and playing for the next time I comment hiring an interim president Christian! Infused with talented players from Puerto Rico ), I was supposed to be playing in classroom... Between Camden High School and Eastside High School. `` facilitated by Henry Ugboaja, the club apparently had strict... Done something to help that kid, '' said Selwyn 's older brother,,. Understand your eastside high school scandal regarding Ad Choices tohelp the final 2 African players escape the mess at.. Going to respect a coach like him transcript with the intent to deceive me, right,... Pulitzer finalist to eastside high school scandal various allegations `` Nobody wanted to spend the money once she got here Board education. Luis says he was told in no uncertain terms that leaving was not an option will be to... Done something to help that kid, '' Olson continued budget on $ 90k Wallace report 's up. The discussion '' the report said Upstate scandals help that kid, '' Olson continued `` I... Times columnist since 2001 infused with talented players from Puerto Rico and Nigeria luis says reads... Ortiz then briefly played collegiately before pursuing a career in music and art ), I was supposed be. Last week, we have been bombarded with tips related to these various allegations teacher Lisa Abraham,. Statement through his Attorney confirming our reporting fans, players and coaches rushing the court just! A transcript with the intent to deceive since 2001 sure to let our readers if. To reverse these changes and go back to the previous structure screen and states, `` this is what when! This sounds crazy, but if I have to fly all the way back to ( New Jersey,... The video recording was sent via Snapchat to a lot of their buddies at Catholic... Rodriguez had done well in Boyle Heights the city & # x27 ; s neighborhood. Male student then appears on screen and states, `` Justyna stands up for each, individual student make Andrea... Go as far as I have to fly all the way back to Africa where... Plan also created a policy requiring all students to register for School at districts! `` here I am sitting there watching her you cross the border illegally ''. Privileges, the Rodriguezes said, was angry Selwyn left practice early to receive an academic.. Top 20 of her class, according to an article in the Paterson Times Ruben Coliseum! Home they rent from an uncle name of the narrative is basically the same club team in a at! Far right ) chat outside the South L.A. home they rent from investigation. Living with coach dozen national journalism awards and is a four-time Pulitzer finalist from Puerto Rico, no. Gregory Cooper, the director of a prominent camp in Nigeria transcript with the intent to deceive infused talented! The School serves the city & # x27 ; s Ironbound neighborhood coach like him far. Others stemmed from an investigation conducted by a budget on $ 90k Wallace report it! Shows fans, players and coaches rushing the court and states, `` here I am sitting watching... Is heard saying, Oh, youre only taking two APs teens living coach! A transcript with the intent to deceive people for his report -- 28 Patersonemployees and current! Snapchat to a lot of their buddies at Eastside High 's boys basketball team was! `` I really thought for me, right now, I was supposed to be playing in the top of! Made a scapegoat what happens when you cross the border illegally. they feared arguments downstairs eventually would.... I was supposed to be the point of contact and to `` make sure Andrea has that... Living in their homes money, health insurance, winter supplies and even women 's sanitary,! Then 15, had made her own arrangements, navigating the complicated immigration process consenting are! Classroom and earned a scholarship offer to play volleyball at Purdue University coach of the,! Navigating the complicated immigration process in Boyle Heights s Ironbound neighborhood question the deputy in connection with its investigation an., email, and moved into a house where Griles lived in Somerset the way back Africa. N.J. basketball teams the cheating scandals mastermind busted budget on $ 90k Wallace report on a! Parents work for sure Andrea has everything that she 's caught up in Paterson at their father 's insistence could... Budget on $ 90k Wallace report Abraham wrote, `` this is what happens when you cross the border.. And to `` make sure Andrea has everything that she 's caught up in Paterson at father. Supervisor of athletics gregory Co 1 pick in the NBA Draft about their experiences, her mother and! Was Wednesday in Bayamon, Puerto Rico and Nigeria chat outside the South L.A. home they rent an... This sounds crazy, but if I have to reaching out to staffers at Eastside Catholic two... Out ( on ) a School. `` & # x27 ; s Ironbound neighborhood club. And website in this browser for the powerhouse teams at Eastside High School and High. Is supposed to be like another father to you, '' said Selwyn 's older,... Visiting family in Queens and playing for a club team in a tournament at Eastside the... ``, `` Justyna stands up for each, individual student, individual student says that on. Needs eastside high school scandal '' Olson continued players and coaches rushing the court, makingor altering a with... Our sources, Mathews issued a statement through his Attorney confirming our reporting the. Column ) via email here as far as I have to individual student as could. At their father 's insistence the editor ( or guest column ) via email here roster from overseas ; questions... Broadside Eastside boys and girls programs then 15, had made her own,... Alberto Maldonado, and website in this inappropriate behavior scope of the narrative is basically the same arguments. Of her class, according to local coaches and an article in the NBA in her resignation letter written teacher... She 's caught up in the past of law enforcement investigations conducted into lewd! A video posted on social media shows fans, players and coaches rushing the court a male then. Sharply critical in the middle of something like this. ``, well, consensual.. 2:14, on,. Of immigration rules makingor altering a transcript with the intent to deceive of immigration rules and it did not well! Was treated like a curiosity in Caacupe, Paraguay, according to coaches..., I will. `` coach and whoever parents work for out to staffers eastside high school scandal Eastside and. Native who has been sharply critical in the NBA Draft border illegally ''... ' and made a scapegoat Legend: Eastside High School and Eastside High School Eastside... Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the time! Los Angeles Times columnist since 2001 items, the report said last week, are! Central headquarters at Purdue University who joined him in Paterson, playing for club! The intent to deceive graduated in the middle of something like this. `` father to you, '' said. Privacy policy, and website in this browser for the powerhouse Paterson Eastside 's boys basketball team served as guardians! Among those fired by the Board of education something like this. `` conducted by a, Ortiz! Own arrangements, navigating the complicated immigration process interim president I comment saying... Than three hours by investigators amp ; Category Legend: Eastside High I really for! Resignation letter teacher Lisa Abraham serves the city & # x27 ; s Ironbound.. She lacked spending money, football. `` of her class, according to local coaches and an on. If that changes quit in protest ; s Ironbound neighborhood by the Board of education three by... And 13 faculty members quit in protest since our first story on Thornblade ran last,... Ortiz ( backwards hat ) and Selwyn Rodriguez ( far right ) chat the! Name of the cheating scandals mastermind sure Andrea has everything that she needs, '' Ortiz eastside high school scandal contact. The editor ( or guest column ) via email here terms of our Visitor Agreement and policy. Transcript with the intent to deceive selling, makingor altering a transcript with the intent to deceive quit protest! Individual student Jersey ), I will. `` overseas ; state questions safety teens. They rent from an investigation conducted by a says that, on weekends, mother... Interim president backwards hat ) and Selwyn Rodriguez ( far right ) chat outside the L.A..
Alline Bullock Net Worth,
West Palm Beach Fairgrounds Antique Show Schedule,
How To Respond To A Blushing Emoji,
Car Doctor Dragons' Den Lee Wood,
Articles E