It turns out that both Dakotah Euton (right) and Chad Jackson (far right), high-profile basketball stars who transferred from Rose Hill Christian to Scott County, have been ruled ineligible by the KHSAA.
Scott County received two letters from the KHSAA on Tuesday, one saying that Jackson was eligible and the other saying that Euton was ineligible.
But on Wednesday morning, Scott County assistant principal and acting atheltic director Joe Pat Covington received a phone call from KHSAA commissioner Brigid DeVries saying there had been a mistake. “She told me there had been a clerical error, and that Chad Jackson was ineligible as well,” Covington said. “She then faxed us a corrected letter saying Chad was ineligible.”
Covington said he contacted Jackson’s mother and gave her the bad news. “Of course, they’re disappointed,” Covington said. “All I could do was present to her what came from the KHSAA. She indicated they will appeal the ruling.”
Joy Berry, Chad’s mother who moved from Ashland to Georgetown, declined comment except to say that she is “heart-broken” and does plan to appeal the ruling.
Clay Euton, Dakotah’s dad, said Tuesday that he plans to appeal his son’s ruling immediately. Euton, a 6-foot-8 junior, has commited to the University of Kentucky.
Covington said that as a member of the KHSAA, Scott County “will abide by the rules and by the rulings. However, if a parent elects to appeal and they ask us to present the facts of their case, we will do that.”
Scott County Coach Billy Hicks was taken aback by Wednesday’s news about Jackson, a 6-4 junior.
“I can’t believe this,” he said. “”There’s got to be some kind of rhyme or reason to all this. These are just high school kids, not pro athletes. Why do these kids and their families have to go through all this?”
June 19, 2008 at 7:22 am |
Just a reminder-you and all will know soon that Jackson and Uthon will be elgible soon. The KHSAA is in the pocket of STAR athlets has been always and it will remain that way forever. The KHSAA is a BIG joke the way they jerk Schools around but very seldom jerk the players around because they want to make certain that certain schools are above the rules and Scott Co is ONE of them along with all, and i mean all of the private schools as well as the INDEPENDANT schools.
June 19, 2008 at 7:53 am |
While Bird is certainly entitled to his opinion about the KHSAA feeling that certain schools are above the rules, I disagree. The KHSAA penalized two private schools in the last couple of years and penalized an independent school (Highlands) in 04. Through family I have some access to the KHSAA, and you can choose not to believe this if you want, but the KHSAA is taking a very aggressive approach to rule violations by every school. If anything, they may now be over reacting due to pressures from the member schools that often are not fully informed of the circumstances in the KHSAA rulings. The Board of Control members (most of which are elected by the member schools and thus subject to such pressure if they want to get re elected to the Board) and the Commissioner who must placate the Board of Control members if she wants to keep her job, are really feeling the heat to crack down. Unfortunately, I think the pendelum has swung too far to the side of aggressive enforcement.
June 22, 2008 at 11:33 am |
Maybe the KHSAA realized why the families moved from Ashland to Gtown. Its not like they moved into a new house in ashland or any surrounding counties
July 31, 2008 at 11:41 am |
Scott Co., Lex Cath, Highlands have been doing this crap for years. It is about time the KHSAA put an end to it.
August 15, 2008 at 10:24 am |
The compliance committee needs to consider motive as much or more than zipcode. This is about an AAU coach/parent promising his players a state championship if they move to an already- competitive school where the coach will put up with–and even take part in– this multiple “family situation change” farse. What do the athletic director, school board, and parents of the three legit Scott County players, who will be cut, think of their high school coach and basketball program?