According to our sources, Mathews was grilled for more than three hours by investigators. 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. My mom, shes a housekeeper and she used to work at a house in the Palisades, and the lady had kids and was very school-oriented, said Azucena Hilario, a Bravo junior. He called her a "no-misser" talent-wise, but said "my heart goes out to the kid. Here's why. The smell of marijuana often wafted into their room, and they feared arguments downstairs eventually would escalate. She had sprouted to 6-foot-7 by the time she was 15, the tallest girl many in her small village had ever seen. Ortiz then briefly played collegiately before pursuing a career in music and art. Griles, the Rodriguezes said, was angry Selwyn left practice early to receive an academic award. But there he was Wednesday in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, at a massive Goya factory. 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. *How scandal of overseas hoops players living with H.S. It's still unclear what sparked the altercation. Or an issue youd like to address proactively? unanswered questions in the Paterson basketball scandal, How scandal of overseas hoops players living with H.S. 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. 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. *NJSIAA slams Eastside with unprecedented penalties. 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 . Got a technical question or a glitch to report? A care package loaded with supplies from his mother, sent to the address in Somerset, never appeared, either. "'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 . Although many Boyle Heights Beat reporters over the years have applied to USC, the programs mentors could not recall a single one getting admitted. Contact Us, 973-321-1000. Got a tip for a story? 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. Juan Griles,coach of the powerhouse boys basketball team, was among those fired by the Board of Education. Ejiofor, then 15, had made her own arrangements, navigating the complicated immigration process. The college scouts never came, either. 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. Often, the players lived with coaches or other school employees. Officials said Johnson has been using sick days she accumulated during her career with Paterson Public Schools, which started in 1979. ", "Here I am sitting there watching her. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. 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 . Griles, the Rodriguezes said, approached the family after Selwyn led Puerto Rico to the Under-17 championship in a 2011 Central America tournament. The Jordans have declined multiple requests for interviews, but Aquino appears to be well clothed, well cared for and her social media accounts suggest she is adjusting to life as an American teenager. A fight broke out during the Camden County Tournament championship game between Camden High School and Eastside High School. Read more: http://nj-ne.ws/lHtJWSq. What if they came knocking on the door?". 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. 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. When one Disciple wanted to get out earlier this year, he was told in no uncertain terms that leaving was not an option. 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's where Griles, he said, discovered him and recruited him to New Jersey. ASB. ICE officials are in the process of interviewing officials and players. "It was hell," Ortiz said. Days after a report detailed that six overseas basketball players were living with a coach, a number of pressing issues remained. 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. Ortiz, an undersized point guard with electric ball-handling skills, said no journey was too long to dish on Juan Griles. Rick Singer how he was describing it, theres three ways to get into college, he said. While membership obviously had its privileges, the club apparently had a strict no cancellation policy. ", Selwyn Rodriguez during practice with Vaqueros de Bayamon in Puerto Rico. Email Audrey Bass at asbass@greenville.k12.sc.us with any questions! State Sen. Richard Codey (D-Essex) called on Attorney General Christopher Porrino to investigate Paterson Eastside. *NJSIAA demands 'full accounting' from hoops power with several overseas players. "Yesterday we were made aware of an inappropriate post on social media made by students at Eastside High School," Davis told The Covington News. VIDEO: Eastside Catholic HS teachers quit Classes could be delayed at a high school sports power house after more than a dozen teachers walked off the job. The districts investigation last year had found that some players involved in the scandal had registered at Eastside, rather than through traditional channels. I think Eileen Shafer has done a tremendous job being proactive on this.. Between five and six boys basketball players from Paterson Eastside lived with the team's head coach this season. We now recognize that this timing was a mistake, and we are working to rectify the impact it has had. He plays wheelchair basketball, he said, hoping for a scholarship. The now-deceased woman who owned the house, the brothers said, was a drug addict who regularly used while they were upstairs. 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. 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. We are disappointed that these students engaged in this inappropriate behavior. The school board president at the time, Chris Irving, had said Johnson was being forced to retire as punishment. And at 6-foot-5, Ejiofor led Eastside to a pair of Passaic County championships, earning scholarship offers from Duke, LSU, Syracuse, Rutgers and several others. undefined Paterson Eastside High School basketball scandal From news that six overseas players were living with the boys coach to the discovery of an international pipeline funneling. "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. But Aquino's living situation deteriorated soon after she was brought to Paterson, according to coaches and the school report. Griles, as has been the case since NJ Advance Media broke the story two months ago, did not return multiple calls for comment. She wants to major in psychology and build a career helping students who feel as stressed as she does now. "Who's going to respect a coach like him? *School suspends hoops coach who had 6 overseas players living with him. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. "That's an even bigger responsibility when you're leaving home to play. (Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com). According to videos shared on social media, a male student can be seen escorting a female student with hands behind her back. KIRO 7 obtained a resignation letter written by teacher Lisa Abraham. How the administrative changes were executed and the timing was a mistake and our community has spoken. 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. But criminally charged? 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. Father Heric and the board co-chairs told teachers, the principals were fired due to restructuring. I think things like this happen all the time.. (Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com), *Season's over: Eastside boys pull out of Passaic County Tournament. She said students had turned down offers that were close to free rides because they couldnt come up with the several thousand dollars still due. 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. Our current administrative structure has been undergoing some review and change. 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. 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. Also, Evans had said the district would seek tenure charges against Griles in an effort to oust him from his teaching position at Eastside. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. 2023 www.northjersey.com. He was benched for a first-round state playoff game, and the reason seemed almost too cruel to believe. More specifically, we have been informed that investigators are looking to question a former athletics coach at Eastside over his alleged proximity to some of the central figures in this unspooling drama. Andrea Galdmez apologized for arriving a few minutes late. But even after winning the MVP at a holiday tournament, Griles ignored him. 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. EHS ASB. 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. Aquino needed to get to the U.S., where she could develop her game, earn a college scholarship and potentially play professionally. 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. She believes that education- particularly the education of the Spirit- is not about politics, money, football.". The apartment was an attic in a Paterson house without heat or air conditioning, the Rodriguezes said. Father Heric will go back to being the school chaplain. Jio Fontan, a former Sparks coach and now the head coach at Queen of Peace High, said he worked closely with Aquino early in her New Jersey stay. All are in compliance, wrote the monitor, Gary Farishian. Additionally, our news outlet has been sharply critical in the past of law enforcement investigations conducted into allegedly lewd and lascivious conduct. 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. Should they lose their jobs? "We're not dumb people. (Natalie Jordan also has been suspended by the district.) Some of the Sparks' coaches also are on the Eastside girls staff. But Johnson, who is Shafers domestic partner, remains on the districts payroll with a total salary of $170,000, according to public records. "I really thought for me, right now, I was supposed to be playing in the NBA. Griles, he said, promised to handle the rest, leaving Edwin to assume his boys would be safe and comfortable. After starting high school that spring, Aquino, who now stands 6-9, joined the powerhouse New Jersey Sparks AAU program. 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. She says that, on weekends, her mother makes and sells pupusas outside the South L.A. home they rent from an uncle. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. I could have done something to help that kid," Olson continued. 2 Morristown, 45-40, the No. The players came to Paterson Eastside from Nigeria, Paraguay and Puerto Rico in search of their own hoops dream. Eastside Catholic updated its website announcing Father William Heric, the school's chaplain, as the interim president on Thursday. 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