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Boys’ basketball: Turmoil at Stoneridge Prep

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Simi Valley Stoneridge Prep, a favorite destination for college basketball recruiters, fired its new coach and athletic director last week, leaving questions whether its many out-of-state and out-of-the-country basketball players will stick around.

Joe Hillock, who served as UCLA’s director of basketball operations for three years, took over as Stoneridge Prep coach on Sept. 1. He said last week he had been terminated. He declined further comment, saying he had been advised by his attorney not to comment. Also fired was Athletic Director Angela Hagen.

According to a statement released by the school, ‘It recently came to the attention of Stoneridge Prep’s management that certain representations made by Hillock prior to being appointed head coach were not true when made. As a result of that discovery, Stoneridge Prep is no longer affiliated with Hillock.’

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Regarding Hagen, the statement says, ‘The decision to separate from Hagen was based on NCAA rules prohibiting such associations between Stoneridge Prep and its students and professional sports agents such as Hagen.’

The NCAA is investigating allegations about the amateur status of former Stoneridge Prep student Enes Kanter, a 6-foot-11 center from Turkey who enrolled at Kentucky.

Stoneridge Prep used to be part of the California Interscholastic Federation, then became an independent prep school after problems with rule violations. The school has sent players to USC, Pepperdine, Minnesota and elsewhere.

Former NBA player Olden Polynice is running the program on an interim basis, according to a school spokesman.

-- Eric Sondheimer

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