Here is a reality check...that figure is bogus. There were absolutely more basketball kids that qualified academically than Justin Jenkins. The fact is, the kids who qualified were not offered scholarships. Also, there were more scholarships offered and accepted in football, baseball and track and field as well as non traditional sports. Finally, there are also the A and B divisions that we are finally starting to respect, that have had scholarship players in recent years. Did we factor those kids in?
You want the solution to this problem? Tell these parents out here to be real parents and stop pushing these kids out like they're wolves to go out there and raise themselves. check their homework and make them read and do math and read the newspaper and watch the news everyday from when they are in elementary school. Too many irresponsible adults are having kids when they games are sloppy and they are not fit to raise a goldfish. As for the kids, whenever you see them shaking their butts and singing this dumb ass music turn that (mess) off and make them write you a paragraph or give them a worksheet to complete. Go to open school night and join the PTA. PUNISH THEM FOR MESSING UP IN SCHOOL! Take away those phones, IPODS, televisions, privileges, and do not let them go outside if they are not doing well in school. Stop buying them a damn thing if those grades ain't right and stop making excuses for them. Get them the help they need from tutoring, after school programs or educate your selves! You lead, and if they see you put emphasis on school then then they will have YOUR value system. If you don't have the knowledge, want more for your kid and don't accept less because you fell short. Don't leave your child's future up to coaches who just want them eligible to play or want them to travel in the summer. We as coaches may love your kids, but a lot less when their time and eligibility is up. Now we love the new kids who will be playing for us more and we will focus on them.
Wingate, Rich Kosik, the Funsport Director Ricky Rivers came up to Wadleigh in the Fall before the season started. Ms. Whitehead, Coach James Barrett, Jason Curry, Professor Swish and other coaches and noted guests were the panelists and they had a conference. All people were invited. Kids, parents and all were welcome. Under 100 people showed up, but the education process about getting qualified was right on front street. Ms. Whitehead gave 1st hand experiences and accounts about her son being recruited and what she has to do as a parent, Jay Curry explained the signing process and academics, Rich Kosik gave his experiences with coaching the Elite at ABCD camps,Coach Barrett asked questions and got educated and used the information provided. One question? Where were the kids and parents that are looking in from the outside who aren't qualified? They weren't there right? Hell no!
I blame it on social promotion that makes economic sense. When I went to school getting back was as low as you can go in the hood. People had more respect for drop outs. At least they were hard core. Now getting left back is a badge of honor. Some parents who don't have that value system even leave their kids back on purpose for basketball reasons? that's proof we need slavery back. At least for a week so some of these people can wake up and put education as a 1st priority again. No middle school principal is going to allow a 16 year old 8th grader to be on their budget another year.
So they come up with packets, portfolios and ways to justify moving them along and then they are high school's problem. Now they are in school with elementary and remedial skills and have to pass Regents courses and exams. Good luck with 4th and 5th grade reading and math levels. When they turn 18 and they are still in the 9th grade, they get shipped out to GED programs. you can write the ending yourself from there.
If you need JUCO then use it to get your credits and your books up. get your degree and keep playing and get your BA (which has become the new high school diploma). Graduate with no loans to pay back and you can always go back to school on a graduate level.
the problem has nothing to do with the PSAL, but they buckled and came up with a the dumbest idea in the world which was to increase the academic standards.