htownSOONER
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http://thethunderdomeblog.blogspot.com/
THURSDAY, APRIL 7, 2011
Findlay Prep...A Mirage in the Desert
A hot topic in the sports world lately has been the undeniable link between the crooked world of AAU Basketball, Prep Schools, and some of College Basketball’s biggest powerhouses. *On the surface, the mission of these prep schools seems gallant: “Let’s take talented, underprivileged kids from the inner city, shower them with love, affection, and good teaching…and maybe teach them how to run a flawless pick-and-roll in their spare time.” *How nice. *The reality is that some of these schools are nothing but basketball factories funded by boosters of Division I colleges in order to funnel our nation’s most talented school boys to their beloved university. *I’m fairly sure the framers of the NCAA Constitution are rolling over in their graves. **
One such example of blatant disregard for the NCAA rules is a little known school in Henderson, Nevada, that goes by the name of Findlay College Prep. *Findlay’s website touts that they are a College Prep School affiliated to The Henderson International School, a private school that offers an exceptional K-12 education. *Why would a school need to be affiliated with another, you ask? *Well, because Findlay Prep isn’t even a school. *It’s a gym and a dormitory. *Findlay has 12 total students, all of which play on the basketball team. *In essence, Findlay is an athletic club that drops its kids off at Henderson International for a few hours of “tutoring” each day to “take classes.” *Except the kids didn’t go to class while the Findlay basketball team was on the road for months, traveling to tournaments in Illinois, Tennessee, Texas, South Dakota, Massachusetts, Virginia, Florida, and New Jersey this past season. *I thought it was a big deal in tenth grade when I got to miss seventh period to travel to play our crosstown rival, but these kids are missing weeks at a time. *Findlay doesn’t sound like college prep inasmuch as it does an NBA prep school. *In May of 2010, The Henderson International School ceased operating its high school, citing the reason for closing its doors as purely budgetary. *You won’t find this on Findlay’s website, they still tout their attachment to The Henderson School, but Findlay no longer has access to any real school. *For now, the athletes are earning high school credits via correspondence. *How convenient.
** * * * * *Where did Findlay prep come from, you ask? *Findlay opened its doors in 2006 with the sole purpose of becoming a basketball academy. *The source of funding for the opening and operation of Findlay Prep was provided by Cliff Findlay, a car dealership magnate and former UNLV basketball player, and Findlay’s silent business partner, a very wealthy alumnus of The University of Texas who also fronted Findlay much of the cash he used to establish his car dealerships. *Why is this important? *Since Findlay’s inception, UNLV has signed two recruits out of Findlay; class of 2008 Center, Brice Massamba, and class of 2009 Power Forward, Carlos Lopez. *While two players to UNLV doesn’t make a trend, consider the windfall of talent that Findlay’s business partner has been able to secure for his alma mater since Findlay opened its doors. *In just 5 years of operation, Rick Barnes’ Longhorns have garnered commitments from 5 star shooting guard Avery Bradley, 5 star point guard Cory Joseph, 5 star power forward Tristan Thompson, and just inked 5 star point guard Myck Kabongo in the 2011 class. *Another interesting note about Thompson and Kabongo is that both players began their careers at St. Benedict’s Prep in Newark, New Jersey but transferred to Findlay for their senior year. * Thompson was kicked off the St. Benedict team for an ugly altercation with teammates and coaches and Kabongo cited that he was transferring because he wanted to go someplace that “made him happy.” **
** * * * * * **
** * * * * *The questions, then, beg to be asked? Why are ALL of Findlay’s most highly-rated players choosing to play for Rick Barnes and The University of Texas? *Why are kids like Kabongo and Thompson committing to Texas and then being placed at Findlay Prep? *We are talking about five star talents that could have gone to any school in the country. *I could see these kids choosing to play for UConn, Kansas, North Carolina, or Duke because those teams win championships and are perennial fixtures in the Final Four. *I can even fathom these kids choosing their hometown school in UNLV. *On the other hand, The University of Texas has only been to the Final Four one time since the conclusion of World War II. *Heck, The Longhorns have never even won the Big XII tournament, much less the NCAA Tournament! *Every coach in college basketball is aware of the Findlay to University of Texas connection so much so that 5 star players like Tristan Thompson and Myck Kabongo weren’t ever offered by ANY school other than Texas. *Why? Because guys like Bill Self and Jim Calhoun know they don’t stand a chance. *I knew that Las Vegas was known for all kinds of debauchery, but the prostitution of Findlay’s players by the University of Texas is shameful. *Have no fear, as it won’t be long until the NCAA hears of these transgressions and does nothing about them. **
** * * * * * Findlay has two studs in the class of 2012 in Power Forward Anthony Bennett and Small Forward Winston Shephard…both already have offers from Rick Barnes. *Anybody want to place bets on where they go to college?
THURSDAY, APRIL 7, 2011
Findlay Prep...A Mirage in the Desert
A hot topic in the sports world lately has been the undeniable link between the crooked world of AAU Basketball, Prep Schools, and some of College Basketball’s biggest powerhouses. *On the surface, the mission of these prep schools seems gallant: “Let’s take talented, underprivileged kids from the inner city, shower them with love, affection, and good teaching…and maybe teach them how to run a flawless pick-and-roll in their spare time.” *How nice. *The reality is that some of these schools are nothing but basketball factories funded by boosters of Division I colleges in order to funnel our nation’s most talented school boys to their beloved university. *I’m fairly sure the framers of the NCAA Constitution are rolling over in their graves. **
One such example of blatant disregard for the NCAA rules is a little known school in Henderson, Nevada, that goes by the name of Findlay College Prep. *Findlay’s website touts that they are a College Prep School affiliated to The Henderson International School, a private school that offers an exceptional K-12 education. *Why would a school need to be affiliated with another, you ask? *Well, because Findlay Prep isn’t even a school. *It’s a gym and a dormitory. *Findlay has 12 total students, all of which play on the basketball team. *In essence, Findlay is an athletic club that drops its kids off at Henderson International for a few hours of “tutoring” each day to “take classes.” *Except the kids didn’t go to class while the Findlay basketball team was on the road for months, traveling to tournaments in Illinois, Tennessee, Texas, South Dakota, Massachusetts, Virginia, Florida, and New Jersey this past season. *I thought it was a big deal in tenth grade when I got to miss seventh period to travel to play our crosstown rival, but these kids are missing weeks at a time. *Findlay doesn’t sound like college prep inasmuch as it does an NBA prep school. *In May of 2010, The Henderson International School ceased operating its high school, citing the reason for closing its doors as purely budgetary. *You won’t find this on Findlay’s website, they still tout their attachment to The Henderson School, but Findlay no longer has access to any real school. *For now, the athletes are earning high school credits via correspondence. *How convenient.
** * * * * *Where did Findlay prep come from, you ask? *Findlay opened its doors in 2006 with the sole purpose of becoming a basketball academy. *The source of funding for the opening and operation of Findlay Prep was provided by Cliff Findlay, a car dealership magnate and former UNLV basketball player, and Findlay’s silent business partner, a very wealthy alumnus of The University of Texas who also fronted Findlay much of the cash he used to establish his car dealerships. *Why is this important? *Since Findlay’s inception, UNLV has signed two recruits out of Findlay; class of 2008 Center, Brice Massamba, and class of 2009 Power Forward, Carlos Lopez. *While two players to UNLV doesn’t make a trend, consider the windfall of talent that Findlay’s business partner has been able to secure for his alma mater since Findlay opened its doors. *In just 5 years of operation, Rick Barnes’ Longhorns have garnered commitments from 5 star shooting guard Avery Bradley, 5 star point guard Cory Joseph, 5 star power forward Tristan Thompson, and just inked 5 star point guard Myck Kabongo in the 2011 class. *Another interesting note about Thompson and Kabongo is that both players began their careers at St. Benedict’s Prep in Newark, New Jersey but transferred to Findlay for their senior year. * Thompson was kicked off the St. Benedict team for an ugly altercation with teammates and coaches and Kabongo cited that he was transferring because he wanted to go someplace that “made him happy.” **
** * * * * * **
** * * * * *The questions, then, beg to be asked? Why are ALL of Findlay’s most highly-rated players choosing to play for Rick Barnes and The University of Texas? *Why are kids like Kabongo and Thompson committing to Texas and then being placed at Findlay Prep? *We are talking about five star talents that could have gone to any school in the country. *I could see these kids choosing to play for UConn, Kansas, North Carolina, or Duke because those teams win championships and are perennial fixtures in the Final Four. *I can even fathom these kids choosing their hometown school in UNLV. *On the other hand, The University of Texas has only been to the Final Four one time since the conclusion of World War II. *Heck, The Longhorns have never even won the Big XII tournament, much less the NCAA Tournament! *Every coach in college basketball is aware of the Findlay to University of Texas connection so much so that 5 star players like Tristan Thompson and Myck Kabongo weren’t ever offered by ANY school other than Texas. *Why? Because guys like Bill Self and Jim Calhoun know they don’t stand a chance. *I knew that Las Vegas was known for all kinds of debauchery, but the prostitution of Findlay’s players by the University of Texas is shameful. *Have no fear, as it won’t be long until the NCAA hears of these transgressions and does nothing about them. **
** * * * * * Findlay has two studs in the class of 2012 in Power Forward Anthony Bennett and Small Forward Winston Shephard…both already have offers from Rick Barnes. *Anybody want to place bets on where they go to college?
