Story
American Heritage builds a girls basketball power and deflects the criticism
Monday, February 08, 2010
by
Cristina Ledra
The American Heritage girls basketball team, which had teetered around .500 the past five years, has put together a 24-1 record this year and is a new powerhouse.
But the Stallions didn't become district champions this season with a group of players that came out of nowhere; more like they came from everywhere.
According to coach Russell Newman, eight of his 15 players are new to the team, with more than half being transfers. Despite all the new faces, the team gelled quickly.
"After we beat the first team I thought maybe it was just that team, then we kept playing a lot of teams and I was like 'Wow, we're scoring 80 points' and it was a big deal," said star junior Diamond Jones, who played at Palm Beach Central last year. "Then we played a couple hard teams and we still did good."
The bevy of new players that helped turn the team's fortunes from 11-12 last year has drawn suspicion from other programs, with whispers of recruiting, a no-no under Florida High School Athletic Association rules.
Newman said American Heritage — a private institution with an enrollment around 400 in the upper school — hasn't done anything wrong. He believes girls flock to the program because of the school's academics.
"There's a lot of people and teams jealous of us and questioning us," said the second-year coach. "But we do it within the rules. We may have done it fast and I don't apologize for being wanted. … We don't break rules.
"I understand about envy and jealousy but I'd like to think we're not perfect and if we ever break a rule it will not be intentional …"
A spokesperson for the FHSAA said the Stallions are not under investigation, nor has anyone reported any wrongdoings.
Part of the reason for Heritage's success could come from the fact that its schedule was made before a lot of its best players arrived, and the Stallions didn't play some of the tough teams that many of the area's elite teams face.
Still, the team went undefeated in its district (2A-13), with its lone loss coming against Lake Worth, and has won its games by an average of 30 points.
Newman admittedly gets animated and emotional during games, and said his enthusiasm may rub some people the wrong way.
But he defends the program.
"I'd like to think part of the reason why parents like our program right now and where it's headed is because we're open minded to our own personal growth as coaches and we care about academics and community service," said Newman, who previously coached the St. Andrew's girls basketball team seven years ago and owns a youth athletic facility in Boca Raton.
Along with Jones, other newcomers on the team include Shateria Davis, formerly of Trinity Christian, Lynzey Williams, formerly of Pompano Beach-Ely, Stephanie Arinus, formerly of Plantation-American Heritage, Courtney Callahan, a freshman from Wellington Christian and Neydja Petithomme, who is widely regarded as one of the top eighth grade basketball players in the state.
Because the team had so many new faces, coaches wanted to build team chemistry, so earlier this year they took the team to practice at the University of Miami's women's basketball facility. The girls also watched the Hurricanes play Duke.
And the raucous sing-along bus ride home helped improve camaraderie.
"We all bonded a lot. Just that one bus ride brought us all closer together," freshman Carly Coleman said.
So despite the whispers, American Heritage prepares to host Weston-Sagemont in the regional quarterfinals on Thursday, enjoying the new phase of a program that went from average to over-achieving in one season.
"We're a very well-rounded team and we're very a close-knit team," Newman said. "From eighth grade to 12th grade we've really bonded as a team outside of basketball, and that has extended to basketball, and that's made us better."
User Comments:
Congrats commented on February 8, 2010 at 8:09 p.m.: flag
American Heritage is a wonderful school for academics! You go girls you must be so smart to get accepted into the school and not pay a dime!
funnystuff commented on February 8, 2010 at 9:11 p.m.: flag
Funny, same thing happened with the football team, and their coach left for unknown reasons..only a matter of time, attracted to school because of academics.. sure, that's why they go there....
bill commented on February 8, 2010 at 9:52 p.m.: flag
Give me a break! All these girls wanted to flock to a school with a sub 500 record and this coach says he did nothing wrong! It`s just a matter of time!
nancy commented on February 9, 2010 at 8:40 a.m.: flag
Incredible how people can't accept true talent. Guess when they just don't have it, they have no better way to express their envy but through criticism. AH has been amazing for my daughter academically and sports. Hummm... guess that's what you call a well rounded school! Go Stallions
bigdog7 commented on February 9, 2010 at 9:23 a.m.: flag
Mom, you are clueless. They will not be caught cheating until someone gets mad enough over playing time to spill the beans. The public just doesnt understand how in todays economy they can continue to offer the 20,000 plus scholarship money.
funnystuff commented on February 9, 2010 at 9:42 a.m.: flag
Mom, no one is questioning the talent..the ethic's is what's being questioned.
The OBC commented on February 9, 2010 at 9:43 a.m.: flag
This is just one of two disturbing articles in the Post today about girls sports with the Grandview Prep Softball team being the other. Lets call it what it is, manufactured winning. It is not envy, just disgust that these schools can find a gray area and expose a loophole to win a Championship.
How can anyone be proud of something they did not work hard for?
Soccer Fan commented on February 9, 2010 at 10:10 a.m.: flag
I'm glad someone else noticed that back-to-back articles contained recruiting allegations. It's just really sad.
There are so many reasons this isn't right. For one, these are small schools, 1A & 2A. Have you seen most of those teams? There not that good.
How about the schools just admit what they're doing, and as a penatly they have to move up to 6A or something like that. It's obvious the FHSAA doesn't want to, or doesn't have the man power to stop this. So, how about they just find a way to level the playing field? It would be almost like the NCAA with their divisions based on scholarship limits.
PB Sportsfan commented on February 9, 2010 at 11:47 a.m.: flag
They don't recruit....they just happen to give kids from winning programs in their respective sports scholarships to go there. ITS A TOTAL JOKE! Unfortunately, if you don't have a video or audio tape of a coach recruiting a kid.....FHSAA will not do anything. It's a shame...
Marjorie Newman commented on February 9, 2010 at 11:58 a.m.: flag
The kids have worked extremly hard this year .It is very sad that sore losers will not allow them to enjoy there moment.Shame on you!!!!!!
PB Sportsfan commented on February 9, 2010 at 12:14 p.m.: flag
People become envious if you win the right way......when you win the American Heritage way people get upset!
Its a joke....all of those girls just happened to transfer to AHS for the academics there. And they happen to all be basketball players....and they all can afford to pay the tuition....
T baby commented on February 9, 2010 at 2:19 p.m.: flag
Same thing with dwyer but why people not talking about that Elam was at lakes before dwyer the kid that play b ball was at martin county two kids this year has already left also #5 on the football team(ruiz) comes from Intlet Grove but I have no problem with kids moving because really its a better chance of going to school with those programs but nothing would happe beceuse its hard to catch someone doing those things because they have the runners who actually recurit Summitt for example
Soccer Fan commented on February 9, 2010 at 2:33 p.m.: flag
Marjories does bring up one good point. The kids at AHD do work very hard. I don't think anyone doubts the effort these kids put into their sports. Also, the coaches at AHD are also excellent coaches. Unfortunately, the kids will never get full credit for their effort and success when the school is constantly shrouded in controversy.
The issue of course is with how all of these talented individuals end up at the same school. And this school, according to their website, charges $18K-21K per year for tuition for grades 6-12.
Of course, American Heritage isn't the only school in this situation.
Basketballfan7 commented on February 9, 2010 at 5:51 p.m.: flag
Are you kidding me? This article is such a joke! American Heritage definetly has something going on with their girls basketball. I'm pretty sure that those girls didn't transfer for the academics!
Ethics commented on February 9, 2010 at 6:24 p.m.: flag
Marjorie I dont know how you sleep at night. These kids are in the school because there talented in basketball. You cant honestly say they payed $ 21,000 I dont understand how you can be proud of talking 8 underpriveledged children into coming to a 2a school. All the other schools in the district played with the talent they had and didnt pay children to come to a school.Not everything in life can be paid for but money sure does talk and make people do dumb things. FHSAA obviously wont stop you I cant wait when all the schools in the district recruit kids and come play you next year and stomp all over you and your purchased children!
Cristina Ledra commented on February 9, 2010 at 6:26 p.m.: flag
I was waiting for the first "where's the real story" comment...
I have heard every rumor and accusation about the AH girls basketball team but unless I want the Post to get sued, I can't print those without solid proof. There isn't enough evidence for the FHSAA to launch an investigation. The only way to prove that rules were broken would be to get AH's financial records, which of course, are not available to anyone except those at AH and the FHSAA, if they chose to request them, which they haven't.
Anyone's accounts that I get (and a lot of people chatter and complain, but won't go on record with me anyway) could simply be dismissed as sour grapes or lies.
All I can go on are facts and as of right now there are a lot of dots with nothing but heresay to connect them. Is it suspicious? Of course. But again, there's no proof.
PB Sportsfan commented on February 9, 2010 at 8:06 p.m.: flag
Cristina,
I believe you did a great job in your article. The problem lies within the FHSAA. When coaches are recruiting and athletes are getting scholarships and/or aid to go to a school, that normal students aren't privy to, the school should be investigated. Apparently, FHSAA requires so much documentary evidence before they do anything......this could go on forever!
FHSAA should either allow recruiting or ENFORCE IT! It's that simple!
Whattt commented on February 9, 2010 at 9:11 p.m.: flag
AHS girls basketball team went down to the witch doctor and got some magic chicken gizards and POOOF!!!!! a group of strong academic girls heard voices calling them to Heritage..come on ,,go to the worst program in the area and turn into a state champion,,,give me a break!!!!!,,
Jack commented on February 9, 2010 at 9:29 p.m.: flag
Recruiting is what every team does when they want to win, get the best players and you have a shot reguardless of who the coach is..take a look at any sport, 100% of the teams that have won state championships have had kids transfer after their freshman year..if u can show me otherwise do so,,, so when it all comes down to it every last school in this state does it from Dwyer to ST. Thomas to St Andrews to Summit to Pahokee... they all do it so lets just get over it already, the rules from the FHSAA allow students to transfer as long as they were not recruited,, you have to fill out paperwork stating you were not recruited to transfer..time to leave it alone ..remember the girls who came to AHS took a chance , a BIG ONE, they came to a looser program and made it a winner, there were no promises of glory made to the girls on that team, they had to work to make this happen. Give credit where its due, those girls reguardless of where they are from they deserve it. And for he record I am not from AHS
Cristina Ledra commented on February 9, 2010 at 10:26 p.m.: flag
Unbellievable, I was responding to an earlier post that said the article was a joke. I knew that comment was coming because a lot of people believe AH illegally recruited those girls. But I can't write that they did because there's no proof that they did. That's all I was explaining. When I said it looks suspicious, that's not a stretch. It's rare that so many athletes join one team in a season. Coach Newman addressed that saying he doesn't apologize for turning the program around so quickly. What I also couldn't do was write a story without mentioning that other teams don't like them. That's part of the whole story.
And for the record, I'm neither racist nor white.
Joe The Basketball Fan commented on February 9, 2010 at 11:03 p.m.: flag
Well, I am not going as far as calling some of the remarks people made in this thread as racist, but they are very telling of their authors. We have to watch what we say people and how we say it, because these are young girls that we are all talking about.
Now, you can call what AHD did by bringing some kids into their school as recruiting or whatever else you want to call it. The botton line is those parents have the right to put their kids into a school that will help their kids academically. This is their right, they decide where they want to send their kids. They may feel that certain school environment is better for their kids, that is their right. Some of you are missing out on that. This is not only about basketball, it is about shaping a better future for these kids, by trying to give their kids a better and private education.
For those of you who are crying about recruiting, let me tell you, it is very hard to proof. WHY, because the parents decides to switch their kids to a new school. The decision to transfer their kids to a new school can be for a number of reasons. They may transfer their kids because they did not like the previous school environment, or their kids may have bad friends at that school, or it could be that the parents just did not like the way the previous coach treated their kids and they just want to transfer their kids over to a new school. Therefore, new environment for the kids, new coach and new relationship.
Everyones are saying AHD or any other program recruits, it is possible that the parents decided to switch their kids over for a number of reasons, including the above mentioned reasons. This is why FHSAA can not find fault in many of these rumors, it's because the parents decide to put their kids in the new school.
Cristina Ledra, don't hold your breath on proofs, rumors of recruits take place everyday. Go to any program you will hear it. Each time a program is improving, transfers take place, the opposing teams or the loosing teams are always accuse the other team of recruits. When coaches or parents accused the other team of recruits, in my book it is a sign of desperation.
Additionally, I just looked up AHD schedule, they played a bunch of scrubbs. This is why they may have their good records. For the other school or coaches out there, may be it is time to start looking for parents who want to transfer their kids over. In fact if you are a coach at any programs and you are not out there looking for disgruntal parents who are looking for a better fit for their kids you are not doing your job and should be fired.
Cristina is right commented on February 9, 2010 at 11:13 p.m.: flag
Look, it does look suspicious but the list of teams that fit that category is very long. I'm not sure why we are so focused on this particular team when literally this is the first year they have even been suspected. We have schools in this county that we know have been recruiting for years. Now we just refer to their coaches as legends. To make any headway you will need people who will go on the record and state their case and produce some solid evidence. Recruiting is here for good. It will never be eradicated.
Unbellievale commented on February 9, 2010 at 11:30 p.m.: flag
Cristina Ledra, the reason why the other schools do not like AHD is because they are loosing to them. I am sure you do not expect those coaches and or thoese parents out there who are loosing to AHD to like them. NOBODY like to loose. Since they are loosing, it is abvious they will dislike AHD and start rumors. Have you seen AHD played, from what I see most of their players have average talent. The only good player they have is an underclassmen. They played against my daughter early in the season, and we beat them. I am upset because some "you" who are writing here are referring to these black young girls with all kind of names. I read your article, thay have may be 3 transfers with average talents and the rest are underclassmen and freshman who are regular admits. What you did was, you also counted those underclassmen and freshman as transferred. well, it does make it look suspicious the way you displayed it. If you would have discribed it has 3 transfers, underclassmen and a couple of regular freshmen admits, it would not look suspicious. You made it look suspicious the way you exposed it. May be you should not inject you personal opinion or editorial and stick to reporting.
Look around commented on February 9, 2010 at 11:40 p.m.: flag
Look around, recruiting is taking place in evey programs. The only reason the loosing teams are complaining is because they can not get their hands on some good talents. If they could they would get some talents as well.
So stop your complaints. Why AHD all of a sudden is getting this type of attention. LOOK AROUND people every programs are getting new talents. so LOOK AROUND and go get your own tallent.
Statement commented on February 9, 2010 at 11:55 p.m.: flag
Unbellievale why dont you get a scholarship and learn how to spell the academics should lure you to the school! Look Around people cant just go find talent not everyone wants to break the rules. Some teams enjoy playing with the kids they get and they use them. Teams dont need to buy people.
Statement commented on February 9, 2010 at 11:55 p.m.: flag
Unbellievale why dont you get a scholarship and learn how to spell the academics should lure you to the school! Look Around people cant just go find talent not everyone wants to break the rules. Some teams enjoy playing with the kids they get and they use them. Teams dont need to buy people.
question commented on February 10, 2010 at 12:39 a.m.: flag
Unbellievale, why do you hate white people you racist, ignorant pig?
PB Sportsfan commented on February 10, 2010 at 7:42 a.m.: flag
People can try to spin the issue at hand as racism or jealousy, but it is neither. People can rationalize this by saying "everyone eles is doing it....why can't we?' Recruiting is recruiting, whether it be at a private or public school and should be looked into by FHSAA, period!
If kids were truly transfering into AHS because of the academics, I laud the parents for doing so. As a parent, we all want whats best for our children. BUT, that's not what is happening. Coincidently, 8 "ballers" who happen to have parents that can afford to pay $21k for their child to a mediocre basketball program and mediocre academic institution, in this economy..... That just doesn't happen!
Many people have heard rumors of recruiting, many people have know kids or parents that were invited by coaches to check out the school and ended getting very favorable financial packages. The reputation of recruiting has taken years to be developed....but this has to be the most blatant. FHSAA should come in and investigate, but they are all talk.....really a joke....and will probably do nothing!
unbellievable commented on February 10, 2010 at 9 a.m.: flag
question
you guys started your racist remarks. I should be the one asking the question why do you hate these black girls so bad.
statement
Sorry I don't know how to spell. May be you can give me some tips on how I should go about complaining on how I got screwed in school. It's seen that this is your area of expertise.
PB Sportsfan commented on February 10, 2010 at 11:30 a.m.: flag
Why don't you go back and read the blog......nobody brings up race before you do!
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