The problem is when the kids don't just "show up" for whatever reasons. Boosters, alumni, coaches, whatever it may be.

 

With that said, I hate the fact that so many are willing to award a championship in June & July more than the fact that all of these transfers (of which some are questionable) are taking place.

That's not even close to the situation I'm talking about. Let's just be blunt. You can take any individual player and come up with a very good reason why he is where he is. But, if we're honest, certain programs (football, basketball, baseball, whatever) at certain schools year after year get "lucky" with people transferring in who just happen to be great athletes. These are not isolated instances, but it's yearly and often based on shortcomings of the feeder system for that particular class. I doubt it's recruiting. I think it's daddies shooting the breeze at AAU games or various tournaments. One says to another "You know, when my boy and that Smith boy reach high school, we should be pretty good. If you were to bring your boy and Jones kid to ABC High, we could contend for State." These guys, in most cases, know what the KHSAA is watching for and how to work the system.

 

So, once again, I'm not asking is it legal. I'm not interested in discussing open enrollment. I'm saying is it honorable even if it is totally legal. Honor is something you deal with when you're all alone.

Sure it's close, 2 players moved into the area and they won a Championship.

 

Some parents make choices, on where there child attends schools after their 8th grade year. Often, these are done for academics, athletics, logistics, job changes, betterment, etc....Those that do leave school "A", usually look to improve or continue, in both academics and athletics.

 

I don't fault anyone, for changing a school and bettering themselves. KHSAA has policies in place, for student-athletes. We may or may not, agree with them but nonetheless, the rules are in place. If a player leaves his/her school and goes to another, then paperwork is generated and a ruling made.

 

If you're asking if AAU or summer coaches, are trying to lure players to a certain school. My response would be, perhaps the competition and exposure in say a Lexington, Louisville, Georgetown or Cincinnati, is better than some areas of the state. I know several people who travel, one who drives 2hrs for their own child, to participate in a summer sport, because the competition and exposure is better, even though a local home town team exists. Not everyone who plays a summer sport, ends up transferring to another school and if they do, done legally than by all means.

OK, thanks for your response everyone. :thumb:

Sure it's close, 2 players moved into the area and they won a Championship.

 

Some parents make choices, on where there child attends schools after their 8th grade year. Often, these are done for academics, athletics, logistics, job changes, betterment, etc....Those that do leave school "A", usually look to improve or continue, in both academics and athletics.

 

I don't fault anyone, for changing a school and bettering themselves. KHSAA has policies in place, for student-athletes. We may or may not, agree with them but nonetheless, the rules are in place. If a player leaves his/her school and goes to another, then paperwork is generated and a ruling made.

 

If you're asking if AAU or summer coaches, are trying to lure players to a certain school. My response would be, perhaps the competition and exposure in say a Lexington, Louisville, Georgetown or Cincinnati, is better than some areas of the state. I know several people who travel, one who drives 2hrs for their own child, to participate in a summer sport, because the competition and exposure is better, even though a local home town team exists. Not everyone who plays a summer sport, ends up transferring to another school and if they do, done legally than by all means.

 

Just a question how many of these "transfers" actually get college scholarships??? Most just chase and chase the "right" school and usually never find it. Hopefully parents do find the right fit and it all works out.

Morgan County should be applauded for winning a region title with homegrown kids. Hard to find a recent 16th region champion who has done it with all homegrown kids.

Just a question how many of these "transfers" actually get college scholarships??? Most just chase and chase the "right" school and usually never find it. Hopefully parents do find the right fit and it all works out.

Good question and I'm sure, probably less when most realize.

 

I'll guess in Kentucky, that more players get seen in Football, than Basketball and Baseball, simply because of one night per week. Basketball and Baseball, have to challenge for evaluations from the same nights, in most instances.

 

Getting seen via camps and combines, are critical along with summer sports. Certain areas of the state, are often limited by the relative location to local colleges.

If I'm understanding some of the posts, it's okay to have your own players grow up but not include, any players that have moved into a system.

 

If that is true, which is worse.

 

(1) Those that leave a system, they have been a part of for years, but decide to leave after their Sophomore year.

 

(2) Those that move into a system, from another school. Is the school which accepts them, less honorable.

 

I'll offer one more comment. Is it honorable, for a class A school of 300 or less, to play against 5A or 6A schools, of 1,800 or more to compete for a title.

 

No it's not. Small schools are at a destinct disadvantage and can not defeat/compete (consistently) with the larger schools. That's why some of the top athletes transfer to those larger more successful schools. By doing so, they will play better competition, be seen by more recruiters and have a better chance to go to the next level. If a kid transfers and has met all the requirements, the school will take them (it doesn't matter if he/she is a star or not). Transfers have always been there, I just think there are some who feel it isn't fair because they are going to Scott Co (Scott Co.is not the only school that gets transfers). So to answer the question: "Is Championships built on transfers honorable?". I don't think honorable has anything to do with it. The school or coach has no input on who transfers. The coach just plays the hand that he is dealt. It is what it is, whether it's home-grown or imported.

As of yet , I haven't seen where anyone has used the word "loyalty".

As of yet , I haven't seen where anyone has used the word "loyalty".

 

I'm from a small town and small school district but if I had an exceptional athletic child, I would want him to go where he had the best opportunity to showcase his talent. If that's not loyal then so be it. At least I would be loyal to my child. I would have the best interest of my child in mind. He would get much more notoriety and publicity at a large school that plays a legitimate schedule versus a small school that plays a weaker schedule. It's a no-brainer, "loyalty" to a high school doesn't pay college tuition. I'd rather be loyal to my child.

Give credit to madman for being honest. It's all about money.

Just a question how many of these "transfers" actually get college scholarships??? Most just chase and chase the "right" school and usually never find it. Hopefully parents do find the right fit and it all works out.

Morgan County should be applauded for winning a region title with homegrown kids. Hard to find a recent 16th region champion who has done it with all homegrown kids.

 

I will applaud the Morgan County program, as they are a class act, but thats not to say they have not always "attempted" to win a region title with non-home grown kid. Although I'm still not sure the definition of "home-grown"? Is that born in America? In the local system since Kindergarten? In since 9th grade or what? Definitions of "home grown" can vary.

Honorable.

Its honorable because players dont always move to stack a team or get recruited. Some move because theyre parents dont like the system or or some kids may have trouble at a school. So when they make people sit out a year isnt right unless recruiting goes on.

I mistakenly posted this in the "Euton-Jackson" thread, but it actually belongs here. :thumb:

(CUE DRAMATIC PATRIOTIC BACKGROUND MUSIC...)

 

I’m all for pride in one’s school, community and student athletes, but the fact that “honor” is even in question here is absurd.

 

If the United States was built with only “homegrown” talent, we would either be Native Americans, or living somewhere else in Europe or Asia. The United States as we know it would not exist.

 

I wonder how many Pilgrims riding leaky wooden ships across the Atlantic, or Pioneers enduring bumpy trails and potential death at the hands of hostile natives while riding wagons across the West had their integrity and honor questioned?

 

Is El Duque without honor for not remaining in Cuba and pitching for Castro’s national team?

 

Many people flee poor situations in their homeland to come to a place that gives them greater opportunity to succeed… are they without honor?

 

Are we actually suggesting that the very freedoms and opportunities this country was founded upon should now be restricted on a state or local level just so some kids can keep their starting positions because they’ve been enrolled in certain school systems the longest?

 

It is entirely honorable to support your local school and cheer on the kids in that program, regardless of how they got there.

 

I think it is honorable for parents to actually “work” for a living, instead of expecting handouts from those who do work. As a tax payer, I'm all for parents earning more money and paying a greater share of taxes to lighten the load on all of us. Therefore, I’m all for parents having the freedom to go where the best work and pay for them may be, without worrying about whether their child will be allowed to enjoy their school situation to the fullest.

 

I don’t know any kids 18 or under (that are still in school playing sports) who earn enough money to buy a house and move to the school of their choice. They go where their parents can find work.

 

Is it honorable for supposed “adults” to get on an internet message board and take pot shots at minors and their parents who moved for this reason? I’m not calling out anyone specifically on this, but I have read dozens of insulting posts over several months that IMO severely lack “honor”.

 

(...FADE MUSIC...)

America was founded on priniciples of a melting pot, a nation of immigrants. In my humble opinion, the most troubling part of the whole transfer/homegrown equation is that it is often lost on adults that these CHILDREN attend the schools, become indoctrinated to their new culture, and become a part of the community as a whole. Too often there are plenty of quality children who are villified by outsiders who know little to nothing about their situations simply because they chose to transfer .

 

 

In the end, the transfer situations line themselves out. Things have a way of working out. The lowest attendence at a Sweet 16 Final since 1992 was the Lexington Catholic/University Heights game. Coincidence? Gloom and doom naysayers, I encourage you to rest easily; the KHSAA and Sweet 16 is a business (and a good one at that). Also, a rapid influx of transfers could be seen as detrimental to cohesiveness, chemistry, and amotivation to other players coming up in the system.

 

Nonetheless, in reality, everyone doesn't get the job, we all eventually fall short on the curve, good athletes will find their way into strong programs, and change is the only constant.

I want to applaud Adair county for going to the state year before last with homegrown talent. The teams that get transfers it doen't always make them better right away. Our rival Taylor Co. got Lenard Macon last year, although he had to wait until Jan to play. But we were still able to beat them three times (2 w/Macon), the games have been close, so maybe this year it is a different story.