The state's governing body for high school sports requested "a full accounting to assess the eligibility of various student-athletes" from Paterson Eastside High School Monday just hours after an NJ Advance Media report detailed the unusual living arrangement and murky guardianship situation on the school's powerhouse boys basketball team.
New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association Executive Director Steve Timko said in a statement released to NJ Advance Media that the organization also is "reviewing the district's internal controls and protocols for determining residency and eligibility."
Timko added the NJSIAA was informed by Eastside officials when the state Division of Child Protection and Permanency is investigating the situation.
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"While there is often a tremendous appetite for immediate action, it's important to note that residency issues may be extremely complicated and investigations by government agencies, law enforcement, or the courts will take precedence and may impact our ability to gather facts," Timko said. "We take these matters very seriously and will work diligently to collect information and, if appropriate, take action."
Over the course of four mornings in late January and as recently as Thursday, NJ Advance Media observed between five and six Eastside basketball players leaving the home of head coach Juan Griles. Five of the boys listed Griles, 50, as their legal guardian and claimed his condo in Paterson as their primary address, according to student profiles in a district database obtained by NJ Advance Media. The other player listed Eastside assistant coach Alberto Maldonado as his guardian.
Three of the players are from Puerto Rico and the three others are originally from Nigeria, according to student profiles and sources within the school district.
Paterson public schools spokeswoman Terry Corallo said last week the district confirmed Griles has legal guardianship of two student athletes and Maldonado has legal guardianship of two others — all Eastside boys basketball players. Corallo declined to say how the district confirmed the coaches have guardianship of the players.
Corallo did not immediately return a phone message and email Monday seeking additional comment.
Larry White, an NJSIAA assistant director in-charge of eligibility issues, said the organization is investigating to see if Eastside violated any state rules regarding recruiting, athletic advantage transfers and coaching protocol. He said aside from eligibility concerns, the NJSIAA must determine if having six players living with coach violates any state bylaws.
"That's a major issue with this particular situation right now," White said. "This has to be fleshed out very, very soon."
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Eastside currently has a 14-2 record and is ranked No. 17 in the NJ.com statewide poll. The Ghosts also have the most power points and are in line for the top seed in the North Jersey, Section 1, Group 4 bracket, with state tournament seeding set for Thursday.
Meanwhile, the report sparked outrage among some in the local sports community. Sen. Richard Codey (D-Essex), a long-time youth basketball coach, called the Eastside situation "disgraceful."
"Where are the adults in the room at the Paterson board of education?" Codey said. "What were they just turning their heads to something that was so obvious? It's outrageous. Kids are exploited. Kids unfortunately can't play for their own high school because these kids were brought in to play basketball. It's just not conscionable."
Codey also called the situation an "a misuse of state funds."
Paterson Public Schools spent $15,629 per student in 2015-16, the latest year state data is available, not including debt service, pension and social security payments made by the state or other costs not associated with an individual student. About 80 percent of the school district's overall funding comes from the state, not city taxpayers.
Matthew Stanmyre may be reached at mstanmyre@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattStanmyre. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
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