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I know this can sometimes be a hot topic, but I am curious about others' opinions on the place of private schools (Harvest Prep, Africentric, St. Somebody Catholic, Etc. - no disrespect intended) in the state tournament. When it comes to tournaments and state competitions are we competing apples against apples? All things considered is it a fair match-up?

No!!! not fair...It almost seems that they recuit, and when you can do that, you become like a college team..It's not fair for schools,big or small.

Yes, this is a can of worms to open, but I don't think private schools should be in the same tournament with public schools. Way too much recruiting done by these schools to make it a fair fight. The argument can be made that public schools these days do the same with open enrollment and kids being recruited to jump schools to have chances to make it far into the playoffs or a state title (South Webster, Oak Hill, etc). Unfortunately, it has became part of the "norm" (no pun intended) with high school sports these days....

Open enrollment has leveled the playing field quite a bit in the state of Ohio........there are a lot of kids who have moved from one district to another for the sole purpose of playing sports.

The real solution is to get better at what you're doing, and if you don't you will get left behind. I'll use my alma mater as an example......Portsmouth High School......either we get better, or the SEOAL, private school, or anyone else will thump us and continue to do so until we get our act together. And that's the way it should be......instead of looking to change the system so often, let's just get better at what we do.

i believe last year that 3 of the 4 state champions were public schools. the only private school was d1 moeller and since se ohio only has a couple of d1 teams it did not affect the se.

There is talk amongst coaches that private schools have to play one division up in the future. But I can't see it getting past the OHSAA officals. I don't think it is fair when public schools have to play schools that are private and draw athletes from a larger area than public schools do. When Ironton girls b-ball team played in the State Tournament the team they played walked out on the floor and I thought there was some kind of exhibition before the game. These high school girls had thighs bigger than my husbands'. It seems like the OHSAA just ignores this. The team they played was a public school I believe too.

Open enrollment does NOT allow kids to go anywhere. There are a few off the wall exceptions, but basically there must be a physical move or sit out one year. Open enrollment will let you go to school at that school, it doesn't allow you be eligible by the OHSAA.

Captain Jack wrote:

4th n Goal wrote:Unfortunately, it has became part of the "norm" (no pun intended) with high school sports these days....

Love that line!

Anyway, I agree, private schools should be in a different tournament. Not only that, but I think schools like Africentric should be in the Division 1 tournament. They are a public school, but they get to draw from all of Columbus. So their enrollment numbers should reflect the draw they have, IMO!

Africentric is a public school? You meant private right?

d young wrote:Open enrollment does NOT allow kids to go anywhere. There are a few off the wall exceptions, but basically there must be a physical move or sit out one year. Open enrollment will let you go to school at that school, it doesn't allow you be eligible by the OHSAA.

By the letter of the law, that is true, but either kids have a relative that lives in the school district or a parent can just get an apartment in another school district to have an "address" there. There are ways around everything and it is done all the time.

CJ - As an entering freshman, I believe that you are correct. I student can choose any school within the Columbus city school system to attend. I'm sure that the AAU BB pimps and some of the "coaches" love this rule.

WOW! Thats interesting...So what good would it do to have seperate public private divisions? Africentric would still be in the public side.lol I just assumed they were another South Euclid Regina wannabe.lol

I don't like the advantages that private schools have, but I don't think the solution (if there is one) is keeping them out of the state tournament. The tournament wouldn't mean as much if the best teams weren't participating. But it is ridiculous what schools like North College Hill can do.

What did North Carolina do a few years ago when all those small "schools" or "academies" were forming for the sole purpous of basketball? I don't think they're as prevalent now because their academics were bogus in many cases.

I think any school with Academy or Prep or a Physical Education school (like C.A.P.E was) should have to play a division up.

These school are able to get the best athletes to come to them because most of these kids, if they don't have a sport to get them in college, then they aren't going, so they will go to a school that hopefullhy they will get noticed.

The OH$AA will not stop it because as long as they are making their money, they could care less about what these specialty schools are doing, sportswise. If they put A'sIS's(figure it out) then they are happy. More AIS equals more $$$$$$$.

For the past five years, Tennessee has required private schools to play one division up. The ratio of private to public schools winning state championships has not changed vs. the previous fifteen years.

Captain Jack wrote:

Black Panther wrote:WOW! Thats interesting...So what good would it do to have seperate public private divisions? Africentric would still be in the public side.lol I just assumed they were another South Euclid Regina wannabe.lol

The solution would be to place schools in divisions not based on school size, but based on the amount of kids they have to draw from. All schools that are part of a large city public school system would be playing in the D1 state tournament as would all private schools. This would even things out very much.

Oh yeah that would work. I'd love to see Delaware Christian(38 boys), Mount Vernon Academy(48), Fairfield Christian(Lancaster)(40), Gahanna Christian(41), Marion Catholic(43), Madison Christian(Groveport)(47) play in D1. Great idea.
Of course all of those schools are based in large towns/cities so they must recruit.

It's funny the lengths that some of the "Christian" schools go in recruiting. They would care less about many of their athletes if they couldn't play ball. I root against all of them. What gets me is the obnoxious attitude of a lot of their fans. These schools have money, large recruiting bases and they act like they accomplish something special when they do well. I love it when they lose.

the simple solution is to make them abide by the same rules as everyone else
for example
for sports purposes private schools should only be allowed to draw kids from the school district in which the school is located
lets use portsmouth as an example
notre dame can only draw kids for sports purposes from the portsmouth school district any child not living in the "district" would be under same guidelines as any1 else they can open enroll in ninth grade if they transfer after that they will have to have a bona fide address in the district
so in columbus private schools can only draw from the district in which the school is located