Whitney Young Basketball Practice Draws IHSA Attention

By Chuck Sudo in News on Dec 15, 2010 7:00PM

Whitney Young Magnet High School has the best of both worlds: a Chicago public high school nationally recognized for its academic and athletic excellence. Their boys basketball squad is currently the seventh-ranked team in the Sun-Times prep standings and can easily practice at the school.

So why did they practice at suburban Burr Ridge Middle School last month? If Young coach Tyrone Slaughter is to be believed, it was really for no reason at all.Hinsdale South boys basketball coach Vince Doran calls "j'accuse" to Slaughter and says he has it on good authority that the practice, which was held in front of Burr Ridge students, was more of a recruiting trip.

“They are recruiting players,” Doran said. “I know one of the kids. His father confided in me. I coached his older son and have a good relationship with the family. He has 12 schools recruiting him, most of them from Chicago.”

The Young practice/recruiting trip brouhaha has now drawn the attention of the Illinois High School Athletic Association. They're investigating the Nov. 12 trip for any possible violations. IHSA Executive Director Marty Hickman said that the organization is awaiting a response to a letter sent to Young to explain the nature of the practice. "I think it's highly unusual that a school would hold a practice miles away from their district. We're giving them an opportunity to respond and will see what they say," Hickman said.

It isn't unusual for schools to start recruiting star junior high players, but IHSA rules, while they don't prohibit practices at middle schools, it is a violation to "induce or attempt to induce or encourage any prospective student to attend any member school for the purpose of participating in athletics even when special remuneration or inducement is not given."

And here we thought recruiting violations were solely the domain of the NCAA