More basketball players headed to Mater Dei

Is there any reason to hold the Southern Section boys' and girls' basketball playoffs this coming season when Santa Ana Mater Dei keeps loading up on players?

The Cleveland Plain Dealer is reporting that new Lakers Coach Mike Brown has become the legal guardian for 5-foot-9 girls' standout Nirra Fields, who will be joining his sons, Elijah and Cameron, in enrolling at Mater Dei.

Mater Dei is still suing the CIF over its transfer rules, with trial set for October. Can things get any more interesting?

-- Eric Sondheimer

 

Comments

[caligriddude]

THE most ludicrous rule in the CIF is that kids who transfer from public school to public school have to sit out a year unless they actually move or are granted a hardship; BUT if a kid moves from public school to private school they are basically guaranteed immediate eligibility. What is the deal with that? Why would it be different? Is it because the CIF actually thinks parents are choosing to pay to go to MD or whatever other private school they are going to? Really? Not a lot of $ is going to these private schools from the family's of these top-flight athletes - everyone knows they are scholarshipped. The rules need to be and should be consistent across the board. Proposal: The ONLY immediate transfer-eligible kid is the one who transfers between 9th and 10th, the ones who are granted inter-district permits OR when the family actually moves into the attendance area (and is verified by the district or attendance personnel from the archdiocese, etc). IF this is not done, the divide will only get bigger between public and private.

[Wayne Kurtz]

Mater Dei is a factory in all sports, male and female. It's all about the power

and unethical recruiting in the Republic of Orange County.

The rich get richer...Wayne Kurtz.

[marvin wadlow]

Mater Dei, the untouchable private school lost tonight in a seemingly unimportant summer league game at Crespi High. The incredible thing is they quit with .38 seconds left down by eight as one of their players shoved and accosted the smallest player on El Camino High's team. Elco stayed with them the entire game as Mater Dei tied it and took it into overtime where Elco hit three threes to go up by nine when one the biggest players shoved and went after one of Elco's smallest players. I assume the Mater Dei coach was ashamed of his players actions as they walked off the court, didn't shake hands, didn't do anything but quit!!! Unbelievable. We will see them @ the fairfax nike tournament! Poor sports Mater Dei!

[sammy culture]

Vincent Joy.....to quote Rodney Dangerfield..."Hey Adolf, the war is over...get new parts for your head!"

We would prefer you not try to turn this high school sports blog into a Klan rally.

I am Catholic and critical of Catholic high schools...when they deserve it and few have been as critical of MD as have I...oh and I have a shaved head and blue eyes...you'd probably think very highly of me if you saw me walking down the street....so back off ES...dude has NO agenda other than to report what he is told...hell sometimes he ISN'T critical enough for my taste..but trust and believe, it ain't because he is a Catholic or Catholic apologist....it's because he gets an opinion...just like any other intelligent, informed person on this blog...guess he even included you in that group..be thankful he did.

[Big nik]

The MD situation is an example of the class system at its finest. The rules are applied totally unfairly and it will never I tepeat never change
. P.S what idiot would make or think this has anything to do with religious beliefs you sir are a moron

[vincent joy]

It's not surprising someone named Sondheimer is critical of a Catholic school. Most media morons hate the idea of Private schools - especially catholic schools.

[what!]

Basketball is a lost cause at MD. It is ALL about the greedy adults and administration who care mostly about their "nationally acclaimed program" and the money it brings in. It really has nothing to do with high school kids playing high school sports and its been that way for a long long time. Unfortunatley, the other sports programs at that school want a piece of the pie too...and when they get caught and told no they run to the diocese to pay for a lawsuit. I dont know how/why those families over there deal with this craziness. I dont know why the diocese doesnt step up its accountablity to these families. Its pretty clear what Mater Dei is pursuing...

[Dave]

I understand that MD is THE private school in So-Cal for basketball players to transfer to. They have a tradition like none other. But, for them to sue the CIF-SS is ludicrous.

Most coaches, like myself, get more than annoyed when they get transfer after transfer approved when it is very apparent that it was athletically motivated...X Johnson from Chaparral is a perfect case in point.