I have stated this before and think it would solve all these problems. No student should be allowed to participate in KHSAA sports unless they are a legitimate citizen of the state of Kentucky. Period. No exceptions. Kids can still attend Kentucky schools from other states if they feel the education offered by that shool offers opportunities not present where they live. There is a lot to be said for kids getting away from the "bad elements" where they live and learning in an atmosphere such as Cordia offers. But for a team to have players from various states participate against schools comprised of all "local" kids just isn't right. There will always be transfers within an area of the state, but expanding this to a national level crosses the line. I'm not arguing the current "rules" as they seem so ambiguous you could argue either side and seem to be right. But I seriously doubt any of the out of state players at Cordia came there because of the educational opportunities. As far as private schools having open houses to attract students, that is exactly what they do. But I doubt serioisly Cordia had an open house and kids from Canada, Miss., etc just dropped in to see what they had to offer. These kids were "recruited" for their basketball ability, just as colleges recruit players. That is a big difference.

 

To the first point: if that is the case, then why should they be denied the opportunity to play sports? Because they're good at them and can beat local kids?

 

To the second point: that seems to be a personal opinion that you are stating as fact when you probably don't know the entire story. Just asking rhetorically, but have you ever spent a day in an inner city school? And I'm not talking about a place in Kentucky, more like somewhere the size of a Houston or Toronto.

 

To the third point: and many private schools who have those open houses just happen to have kids that don't fit their, ahem, typical demographics, come to those (probably after receiving an invitation, whether it be formal or informal, from someone at the school), and I doubt it's "just to see what they had to offer". Seeing as how that happens, I fail to see the difference between situations such as those and Cordia's.

I saw on theroadtorupp.com that there are accusations of some local schools blocking paperwork on the Cordia kids. How does that work? Why are other schools involved?

 

IF that were the case, it seems like it'd have to be a school that's part of their school system. Again, IF, that's true, it's funny that the school in question would be concerned about a school receiving a transfer.

IF that were the case, it seems like it'd have to be a school that's part of their school system. Again, IF, that's true, it's funny that the school in question would be concerned about a school receiving a transfer.

 

Here is the article I was referencing:

 

The Road to Rupp: Pre-Season Update 10/13

 

• No official word on the Cordia Lions new additions if they have been ruled eligible or not. I have heard from a source that a couple of the schools have been slowing down the process by not sending paperwork in a timely manner. I have also heard that Henry Clay has filed a grievance with the KHSAA about Christen Cunningham transferring to Lotts Creek. I am told that Cordia fans should have nothing to worry about though as all the players will eventually be ruled ready to play.

 

After re-reading that, I think it might be meaning the schools the kids came from aren't sending the paperwork in a timely manner.

Here is the article I was referencing:

 

The Road to Rupp: Pre-Season Update 10/13

 

• No official word on the Cordia Lions new additions if they have been ruled eligible or not. I have heard from a source that a couple of the schools have been slowing down the process by not sending paperwork in a timely manner. I have also heard that Henry Clay has filed a grievance with the KHSAA about Christen Cunningham transferring to Lotts Creek. I am told that Cordia fans should have nothing to worry about though as all the players will eventually be ruled ready to play.

 

After re-reading that, I think it might be meaning the schools the kids came from aren't sending the paperwork in a timely manner.

 

Ah, gotcha. That makes more sense. I can see that happening, but why haven't the other kids had a ruling?

 

Is it typically the KHSAA's policy to rule on the transfers all at once in situations similar to this or is the grievance being filed holding up the entire process?

Here is the article I was referencing:

 

The Road to Rupp: Pre-Season Update 10/13

 

• No official word on the Cordia Lions new additions if they have been ruled eligible or not. I have heard from a source that a couple of the schools have been slowing down the process by not sending paperwork in a timely manner. I have also heard that Henry Clay has filed a grievance with the KHSAA about Christen Cunningham transferring to Lotts Creek. I am told that Cordia fans should have nothing to worry about though as all the players will eventually be ruled ready to play.

 

After re-reading that, I think it might be meaning the schools the kids came from aren't sending the paperwork in a timely manner.

 

I wonder if that's because all the transfers are legit or they believe the KHSAA don't or won't open that big can of worms?

I wonder if that's because all the transfers are legit or they believe the KHSAA don't or won't open that big can of worms?

 

IF Henry Clay complained about Cunningham, I find it odd that he's on his fourth high school, but the third one complains about him going to the fourth one.

My biggest contention with this is that it's analogous to saying, well, Person X is less of a criminal than Person Y. Person X murdered one person. Person Y murdered thirteen people.

 

One thing that I will definitely give you is that, throughout the debate on transfers, you have maintained a consistent point that any and all transfers who are subject to a violation of the rules should be declared ineligible.

 

I just diverge from that point because I think that, at the end of the day, you do more harm than good taking such a hardline stance. I definitely respect your point and do not mean for that to come off as you intend to do cause harm to the kids or anything like that, in fact, I think just the opposite. We just have a different idea and conception of what causes the most 'harm'.

 

 

As for the 'systematic' point you make, I look at it like this. Over the past 25 years, Cordia has probably gotten just as many transfers who are "difference makers in athletics" as some of the other schools in their region. They just happened to get them in a 1-2 year span while the other schools got 1-2 over the course of 2-3 years. Why should they be denied a turn? They took a chance and hired Rhodes when other schools didn't because they saw the writing on the wall.

 

 

If a kid is getting a chance to better themselves by going to Cordia and learning under Rhodes, then more to them, especially if it's their ticket to a free education. Being a Division I basketball player can set you for life if you have a good head on your shoulders. Even if you don't earn a degree, if you are personable and have a decent work ethic, you'll have lots of doors opened to you working in marketing, sales, or coaching. That's just how it is, and what having the chance to seize that opportunity probably means to some should not be underestimated.

 

 

This part is NOT directed toward you at all, but is just my general feeling, but I find it funny that so many times, we hear about a kid going to a school like Trinity, Lexington Catholic, or somewhere similar and posters talking about how they'll receive a quality education, etc. However, when it's a "have not" like Cordia in the hills of Eastern Kentucky, it's just a different story for some reason. It seems very ethnocentric to think that a kid should be denied an opportunity to better themselves because they aren't American or aren't "local" enough for people's liking. It doesn't seem to be in line with the most fundamental principles of humanitarianism to say, "this person deserves a better opportunity than that person because this person was born domestically and that person wasn't, even though the person that wasn't is dying to come here".

 

Not really. Think of it this way. "Doors open, recruit away, go where you want to boys and girls". Imagine the chaos with high school athletics if it was done this way. Heck, if you'd want to compete, a school would have to hire a recruiting coordinator for athletics. I say that SOMEWHAT tongue in cheek, but it wouldn't be far from that.

 

Hey, I played hs ball, and I would hate to see a kid not get the chance to play who really wants to. But certain rules are in place to if not completely eliminate, then greatly minimize the chaos of kids being "recruited" in the guise of transferring.

IF Henry Clay complained about Cunningham, I find it odd that he's on his fourth high school, but the third one complains about him going to the fourth one.

 

I don't know his situation, but I'm with you on that. I'm wondering if he should have ever been eligible at HC in the first place. They might not want to make too much noise...could be a case of be careful what you ask for.

I don't know his situation, but I'm with you on that. I'm wondering if he should have ever been eligible at HC in the first place. They might not want to make too much noise...could be a case of be careful what you ask for.

 

Nodding in agreement.

 

It seems somewhat naive to think that the kid makes three legitimate transfers in such a short time, then sometime between the third and fourth, decides to go rogue, which is essentially what they'd be claiming if they say they did nothing wrong in getting him but another school violated the rules in doing the same.

Nodding in agreement.

 

It seems somewhat naive to think that the kid makes three legitimate transfers in such a short time, then sometime between the third and fourth, decides to go rogue, which is essentially what they'd be claiming if they say they did nothing wrong in getting him but another school violated the rules in doing the same.

 

And without recruiting/transfer rules in place, this is EXACTLY the sort of thing it would open up the door for. Imagine if there were dozens, or even hundreds of examples of this kid every year, jumping from school to school. And it would happen...believe me it would happen.

Eh, the rules really seem to be doing such a good job of preventing it anyway. :sssh:

 

I think that, at the end of the day, the kids hurt most by the rules in place are those who choose to be completely honest and/or those who aren't told "what to say" by their newfound program because that new program doesn't really want or need them to be eligible. When I say this, I mean a marginal kid who might be the 9th man on the basketball team or a second string player on the football team, but who'd probably ruffle more feathers of parents/kids already in the program to be worth the trouble they could bring.

 

You can bet that, if they are a kid who'd really help the program, someone will make sure they know exactly what to say (as well as what not to say) if there's any chance that they could be ruled eligible.

To the first point: if that is the case, then why should they be denied the opportunity to play sports? Because they're good at them and can beat local kids?

 

To the second point: that seems to be a personal opinion that you are stating as fact when you probably don't know the entire story. Just asking rhetorically, but have you ever spent a day in an inner city school? And I'm not talking about a place in Kentucky, more like somewhere the size of a Houston or Toronto.

 

To the third point: and many private schools who have those open houses just happen to have kids that don't fit their, ahem, typical demographics, come to those (probably after receiving an invitation, whether it be formal or informal, from someone at the school), and I doubt it's "just to see what they had to offer". Seeing as how that happens, I fail to see the difference between situations such as those and Cordia's.

To your first point: They are essentially an all-star team made up of kids from a number of different states, countries. competing againest Ky. kids from one locale. This is fair?

To your second point: No, I have never spent a day in an inner city school in Houston or Toronto. I have NO problem with kids coming from these types of environments to get a better education; however if they choose to come from out of state to do this they schould not be eligible to play in Kentucky. If they want to play, find a better school in their own state. And don't tell me there aren't any schools like this in Texas, Canada,etc. It's simple; If you choose to leave your state for another school you forfit your right to play in that state's organization. This goes for kids from Indiana playing in Louisville, or any other similar situation.

As to your third point: Are you insinuating private schools should only educate kids who fit their "demograpics'? Only rich kids need apply? Diversity has been at the heart of school systems for decades, dare we go back on this? Yes I'm sure they are invited informally to attend, BUT, and I will make this point AGAIN, if they are from out of state they should not be eligible to participate in KHSAA activities. If you honestly can't see the difference between a student from the neighboring school system transfering in to a different school and kids from hundreds of miles away doing the same thing you are either naive beyond believabability (which I seriously doubt) or you just don't care to see trees for the forest.

To your first point: They are essentially an all-star team made up of kids from a number of different states, countries. competing againest Ky. kids from one locale. This is fair?

To your second point: No, I have never spent a day in an inner city school in Houston or Toronto. I have NO problem with kids coming from these types of environments to get a better education; however if they choose to come from out of state to do this they schould not be eligible to play in Kentucky. If they want to play, find a better school in their own state. And don't tell me there aren't any schools like this in Texas, Canada,etc. It's simple; If you choose to leave your state for another school you forfit your right to play in that state's organization. This goes for kids from Indiana playing in Louisville, or any other similar situation.

As to your third point: Are you insinuating private schools should only educate kids who fit their "demograpics'? Only rich kids need apply? Diversity has been at the heart of school systems for decades, dare we go back on this? Yes I'm sure they are invited informally to attend, BUT, and I will make this point AGAIN, if they are from out of state they should not be eligible to participate in KHSAA activities. If you honestly can't see the difference between a student from the neighboring school system transfering in to a different school and kids from hundreds of miles away doing the same thing you are either naive beyond believabability (which I seriously doubt) or you just don't care to see trees for the forest.

 

I think an all-star team of kids from other states and countries is just as justified to beat their competition as a team of all-stars from the Louisville, Northern Kentucky, or Lexington areas.

 

 

I think that often, the 'diversity' that I was speaking of is when a kid who just happens to be a good athlete ends up getting an invitation to one of these open houses through an intermediary. Without naming names, I had a friend in college whose younger brother was driven to an open house and entrance exam by an assistant basketball coach. Think anything might have went on there? He also happened to be a very good basketball player.

 

Let's not pretend that all of these "charity cases" are kids who are seen as students first and foremost, because I'm 99% sure that this kid wouldn't have had a sniff at the school he ended up at if not for his athletic skill. Every kid that gets a nice work-study opportunity isn't motivated solely by the goodness of someone's heart, no matter how noble that school's mission may be. Sure, they recruit good students, and not every school is guilty of it, but it's amazing how good athletes find their way to these places and seem to luck their way into these opportunities if something isn't going on.

 

It just seems like people are rushing to criticize a "have not" (Cordia) for possibly playing the game that the "haves" have been beating them at for years.

 

 

Finally, I just fail to see how it's right that a school in a more densely populated area in Kentucky does this with a kid in a neighboring area is any different from a school in an isolated area going farther to do the same thing, especially when that school is a boarding school whose mission and identity has been founded on these principles.

 

It seems like you are basically saying that Kentuckians are inherently more valuable than people from other states and countries, and this worth justifies them playing, even if the means:ends relationship between them and their school is the same as those for a non-native. If seeing otherwise is losing the forest for the trees, then I guess I really don't mind being lost.

Edited October 14, 201312 yr by JokersWild24

We all know what Rhodes is doing and it's no different than Knott Central, Perry Central, Hazard. It's against the rules to mention it on BGP but we all know exactly what he's doing. I seen a Leslie County fan talking with commissioner Tackett on twitter about this and Tackett told him that if he feels that their is wrong doing to mail KHSAA....

 

Don't know if it's true or not but I have heard that KHSAA was already investigating Cordia. Pretty sure Rhodes has already made the comment, when he first came to Cordia, that he wanted to turn Cordia into the next Oak Hill...

 

 

Hope none of that is against the BGP Rules..

We all know what Rhodes is doing and it's no different than Knott Central, Perry Central, Hazard. It's against the rules to mention it on BGP but we all know exactly what he's doing. I seen a Leslie County fan talking with commissioner Tackett on twitter about this and Tackett told him that if he feels that their is wrong doing to mail KHSAA....

 

Don't know if it's true or not but I have heard that KHSAA was already investigating Cordia. Pretty sure Rhodes has already made the comment, when he first came to Cordia, that he wanted to turn Cordia into the next Oak Hill...

 

 

Hope none of that is against the BGP Rules..

 

He did make that comment indeed. It's in one of the links in my article.