The Paterson school district has announced that Shaniqua Bacote, an assistant coach on the Eastside High boys basketball team, will serve as acting head coach for the remainder of the season.
Bacote will replace Juan Griles, who was suspended along with his top assistant coach on Monday following an NJ Advance Media report that revealed he had as many as six overseas players living with him in a two-bedroom condominium in the city.
Bacote, a Paterson native who played for Bloomfield College women's basketball team until 2013, will be assisted by Roger Sangster. It is unclear if any players on the team, which has a 14-2 record and is ranked 17th in the NJ.com statewide poll, will be suspended. Eastside is scheduled to play its next game on Thursday afternoon against Wayne Hills.
The immediate future of the team remains uncertain with the state playoffs looming. The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association has requested a "full accounting to assess the eligibility of various student-athletes" from Paterson officials.
Read the full NJ Advance Media investigation
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 922-square foot condominium of Griles in the city. Four of the boys listed Griles, 50, as their legal guardian and claimed his condo as their primary address, according to student profiles in a district database obtained by NJ Advance Media. The two other players listed Maldonado as their 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. Those sources spoke to NJ Advance Media on the condition they not be identified, fearful of retaliation within the district. Many of those same sources had also expressed concern about the health and well-being of the boys.
The state Division of Child Protection and Permanency is investigating the whereabouts and safety of the teenagers, how they arrived in Paterson and who has legal custody, according to sources familiar with the matter. The state agency got involved when a player complained that Griles did not provide enough food in the house and that dinner was spaghetti for "a whole two weeks." The district, in its statement, confirmed it would be working with DCPP.
Steve Politi may be reached at spoliti@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @StevePoliti. Find Steve on Facebook.
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