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Schools

Whitney Young Basketball Coach Suspended For Practice at Burr Ridge Middle School

Although the IHSA suspended Whitney Young's coach for a practice held at BRMS, there was no evidence that any individual recruiting occurred.

On Nov. 12 2010, the Whitney Young Magnet High School basketball team held practice at Burr Ridge Middle School in front of an audience of interested BRMS students. Whitney Young had a scheduling conflict at their gymnasium and Community Consolidated School District 180 officials thought it would be a good chance for the students to see the highly ranked basketball team play.

The athletic department at Hinsdale South High School and the Illinois High School Association saw differently and an investigation into possible recruitment violations followed.

On Feb. 4, IHSA Executive Director Marty Hickman ruled that Tyrone Slaughter, Young's head basketball coach, be suspended until Feb. 14 from all team events — including contact with players and coaches, practices, games and any other organized team activities. Additionaly, the magnet school and its boy’s basketball program will be placed on probation until Jan. 1, 2012.

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“This was not an event that came together at a moment’s notice,” said Hickman in a press release. “Whitney Young’s basketball program had ample time to seek clearance from its athletic administration, high school administration or from the IHSA. Had they done so, they would have been notified that a practice of this nature violates the IHSA Recruiting Bylaws, specifically 3.071 and 3.073.”

Hickman did acknowledge that there was no evidence that any Burr Ridge Middle School players were recruited during the event.

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Hinsdale South Athletic Director Tim Feigh said he was not surprised by the IHSA's decision. Hinsdale South had notified the IHSA of the practice as soon as they heard about it.

“[Hinsdale South] cannot go out to feeder schools and market selective programs at the high school, it has to be about the school overall,” said Feigh.

Hickman's ruling echoes Feigh's statement, “A school’s administration can market its programs, but it has to be done in the overall context of the school’s academic and extracurricular programs. This event was conducted by the coach and only provided the attendees with the opportunity to learn about Whitney Young’s boy’s basketball program.”

CCSD 180 Superintendent Thomas Schneider said shortly after the story broke in December that although looking back, officials could see “how it probably looked” to outsiders, but that the event was in no way a recruiting ploy.

“The IHSA stated in their opinion that no individual recruiting took place,” Schneider recently told Patch, adding that the IHSA's ruling does not change the fact that Burr Ridge Middle School had no ill intent when the practice was arranged.

No disciplinary action has been taken against the middle school for the practice.

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