That's the only way they could get him eligible according to someone very close to the situation.

 

Gets more suspicious/shady by the day........

 

I have heard a major storm is brewing and is headed right for East Ridge and it all is originating in Pikeville. Kind of ironic to me though considering the dozens of kids Pikeville has brought in over the years, but now that a county school is doing something similar they are losing it. I mean my lord, Pikeville just brought in a couple new transfers a season or two ago, but I guess since the guys they normally get aren't as good as what ER has brought in its time to throw a fit. Makes me sick, hopefully nothing too bad comes from it and we at least get to see this team play intact this season. With Wolter and Kasongo they should be front runners for 15th Region title this year.

That's the only way they could get him eligible according to someone very close to the situation.

 

Heard they have had a hard time adjusting because of something to do with how the school system works in Canada. Something like you only go to school 3 days in Canada or something like that so the full five day school week I have heard is wearing on them. Also heard that Ray played school ball in Canada and Wolter didn't and that was partly to due with the hold up on his eligibility.

 

Glad they could get it worked out, nice looking prospect and should add some excitement to East Ridge basketball once again.

I have heard a major storm is brewing and is headed right for East Ridge and it all is originating in Pikeville. Kind of ironic to me though considering the dozens of kids Pikeville has brought in over the years, but now that a county school is doing something similar they are losing it. I mean my lord, Pikeville just brought in a couple new transfers a season or two ago, but I guess since the guys they normally get aren't as good as what ER has brought in its time to throw a fit. Makes me sick, hopefully nothing too bad comes from it and we at least get to see this team play intact this season. With Wolter and Kasongo they should be front runners for 15th Region title this year.

 

 

It is not just Pikeville.

 

I am no Pikeville fan AT ALL, but there is a HUGE difference in kids transferring around schools locally and a coach who goes out and gets kids from another country due to his connections with Brandon Bender.

It is not just Pikeville.

 

I am no Pikeville fan AT ALL, but there is a HUGE difference in kids transferring around schools locally and a coach who goes out and gets kids from another country due to his connections with Brandon Bender.

 

Kids from Lexington and out of state don't necisarily qualify as "local" kids. The way I see it, regardless of how good or bad these transfers may be, no matter if you come from Lexington with no Pike County ties or Canada it is all the same to me. In a way just kind of sounds like sour grapes. Lot of these schools have been doing the same thing for years, but since their transfers may not have came as far to relocate or may not be as big of college prospects it is suddenly a huge deal. To me a fishy transfer is a fishy transfer and Pikeville and other schools have many more of those than ER ever will.

Kids from Lexington and out of state don't necisarily qualify as "local" kids. The way I see it, regardless of how good or bad these transfers may be, no matter if you come from Lexington with no Pike County ties or Canada it is all the same to me. In a way just kind of sounds like sour grapes. Lot of these schools have been doing the same thing for years, but since their transfers may not have came as far to relocate or may not be as big of college prospects it is suddenly a huge deal. To me a fishy transfer is a fishy transfer and Pikeville and other schools have many more of those than ER ever will.

 

 

You are correct on the fishy transfer is a fishy transfer no matter what. This just seems extra shady because of the guy who delivered these kids has his name all over the Central Florida NCAA investigation. Just google it...open records...his name is mentioned like 20 times in the first 3 pages. Not sure I want to associate with him if I am a high school coach.

Kids from Lexington and out of state don't necisarily qualify as "local" kids. The way I see it, regardless of how good or bad these transfers may be, no matter if you come from Lexington with no Pike County ties or Canada it is all the same to me. In a way just kind of sounds like sour grapes. Lot of these schools have been doing the same thing for years, but since their transfers may not have came as far to relocate or may not be as big of college prospects it is suddenly a huge deal. To me a fishy transfer is a fishy transfer and Pikeville and other schools have many more of those than ER ever will.

 

Sure it's sour grapes but it still doesn't make it legal. My question is: Did East Ridge really think this would go over without a major fight? Seriously, Brandon Bender?

You are correct on the fishy transfer is a fishy transfer no matter what. This just seems extra shady because of the guy who delivered these kids has his name all over the Central Florida NCAA investigation. Just google it...open records...his name is mentioned like 20 times in the first 3 pages. Not sure I want to associate with him if I am a high school coach.

 

Oh believe me I know all about Brandon Bender, but so far he has not been tied to this. He is speculated to be connected but no one knows.

Sure it's sour grapes but it still doesn't make it legal. My question is: Did East Ridge really think this would go over without a major fight? Seriously, Brandon Bender?

 

 

Again, I don't understand the common assumption with Bender. You all act like he sent the two in a package with a big picture of his face on the box saying courtesy of Brandon Bender. Again that is just speculative. Does it make sense? Of course it does. But will it be hard to prove that is what has happened, of course it will.

 

The thing I heard from someone up there was Kentucky wanted to look at Kasongo and wanted to get him somewhere they could at least track his progress better. Albeit not a superstar by any means nor connected as well as most UK players would be, Preston Lemaster still has UK ties so that is also entirely possible.

 

The thing is the KHSAA has ruled both he and Tony Wolter eligible as well as the kid at Pulaski SW, was Bender in on that one too? I mean the KHSAA has been pretty stingy lately, if it was that blatant of set up involving Bender I doubt these guys get cleared. Jaysean Paige was denied at PCC and he actually came from inside the US.

Again, I don't understand the common assumption with Bender. You all act like he sent the two in a package with a big picture of his face on the box saying courtesy of Brandon Bender. Again that is just speculative. Does it make sense? Of course it does. But will it be hard to prove that is what has happened, of course it will.

 

The thing I heard from someone up there was Kentucky wanted to look at Kasongo and wanted to get him somewhere they could at least track his progress better. Albeit not a superstar by any means nor connected as well as most UK players would be, Preston Lemaster still has UK ties so that is also entirely possible.

 

The thing is the KHSAA has ruled both he and Tony Wolter eligible as well as the kid at Pulaski SW, was Bender in on that one too? I mean the KHSAA has been pretty stingy lately, if it was that blatant of set up involving Bender I doubt these guys get cleared. Jaysean Paige was denied at PCC and he actually came from inside the US.

 

So you think maybe the KHSAA can be influnced by UK? Look I don't care who plays at East Ridge. I really don't give 3 hoots about high school basketball and would be the first to admit that I know very little about the situation but from the outside looking in it looks very suspecious. Just sayin.

 

Ask yourself this: How many non basketball playing Canadians have move to Elkhorn City in the past 100 or so years?

Oh believe me I know all about Brandon Bender, but so far he has not been tied to this. He is speculated to be connected but no one knows.

 

This is not a true statement. I hate to be the guy that says I have a source and not name it, but Brandon Bender is most definitely involved with this. Not sure what impact that will have on their eligibility though...

Again, I don't understand the common assumption with Bender. You all act like he sent the two in a package with a big picture of his face on the box saying courtesy of Brandon Bender. Again that is just speculative. Does it make sense? Of course it does. But will it be hard to prove that is what has happened, of course it will.

 

The thing I heard from someone up there was Kentucky wanted to look at Kasongo and wanted to get him somewhere they could at least track his progress better. Albeit not a superstar by any means nor connected as well as most UK players would be, Preston Lemaster still has UK ties so that is also entirely possible.

 

The thing is the KHSAA has ruled both he and Tony Wolter eligible as well as the kid at Pulaski SW, was Bender in on that one too? I mean the KHSAA has been pretty stingy lately, if it was that blatant of set up involving Bender I doubt these guys get cleared. Jaysean Paige was denied at PCC and he actually came from inside the US.

 

 

What does UK have to do with it if everything is on the up and up....or LeMaster's connections.....if it's all legal?

So you think maybe the KHSAA can be influnced by UK? Look I don't care who plays at East Ridge. I really don't give 3 hoots about high school basketball and would be the first to admit that I know very little about the situation but from the outside looking in it looks very suspecious. Just sayin.

 

Ask yourself this: How many non basketball playing Canadians have move to Elkhorn City in the past 100 or so years?

 

None that I know of and probably will never know of. BUT, of course they came to play basketball, why else would they be there? All I'm saying is stuff like this happens all the time, not just in Kentucky, but all across the nation. Back in the day it was the Croation Myron Mendolovic (sp?) who transferred to Elkhorn City as a foreign exchange student. Players are always transferring to different schools and the newest trend is Canadian basketball players looking for a place to play in the states. Findlay Prep has basically become a national power over night by bringing in kids like Cory Joseph, Tristan Thompson, Myck Kabongo, and now Anthony Bennett, all of which are from Canada. Plenty of other Canadian kids have found there way to American schools. Of course the kids came for basketball. Point blank though the kids to the best of my knowledge were legally adopted so when it comes to that why should they not be eligible when others in similar circumstances have become eligible. May not be fair to the other schools in the 15th who haven't gotten big time transfers but I'm assuming the option is available if any has felt the need to go there. Again let's not act like schools like Pikeville, Paintsville, Belfry, Prestonsburg, Johnson Central, Lawrence County, and such have not gotten transfers before, those schools will get more of those type transfers than East Ridge ever will. It's been something that has went on for a while and something that will continue to go on, some kids get eligible to suit up and play, others get denied and have to sit out, that's just how it goes and thats just hows its went and will continue to go.

 

 

This is not a true statement. I hate to be the guy that says I have a source and not name it, but Brandon Bender is most definitely involved with this. Not sure what impact that will have on their eligibility though...

 

 

To my knowledge both are now eligible. Even if you say it is a fact this was all Brandon Bender again it is a case of proving that is what went on before everyone can act like this is just common knowledge. Bottom line were the kids were adopted by parents living in the East Ridge school district and bottom line is the KHSAA has ruled them eligible to compete just like the Canadian transfer at Pulaski SW.

What does UK have to do with it if everything is on the up and up....or LeMaster's connections.....if it's all legal?

 

All I was saying is if everyone wants to jump to the conclusion it is all Brandon Bender's doing than why can't people jump to the conclusion it has something to do with UK considering Lemaster's connection there. All I'm saying is it is speculation no matter how you speculate. The thing about it is the kids are there and they got there somehow and some way and how it all went down and why it all went down is something we may never know. Fact of the matter is it was done legit so all the speculation is pointless.

Bottom line were the kids were adopted by parents living in the East Ridge school district

 

Not true.

Not true.

 

Legal Guardians, whatever you want to call it.