[Granny Bear]

Bear Claw..you know as well as I do that this goes on at BOTH school systems. There isn't a whole lot can be done when a parent wants their kid playing NOW and Harlan Ind is just sitting there starving for any talent that comes their way. I agree, if a kid (and a parent) were smart they would wait. Obviously, if a kid is serious about whatever sport, he/she will get much better playing against tougher competition that the bigger school provides. Unfortunately, parents and kids are looking for instant results even if it is a false sense of accomplishment. For example, Harlan Ind picked up a marginal kid (won't mention his name) that had potential to really improve and help the county as a junior and a senior. No doubt, if he stayed he would have been much better with all the county has to offer. However, he and his parents chose to attend Harlan where he has seen some playing time as a freshman. He's playing terrible competition both in practice and in games, but in their eyes he is playing, scoring, etc. This kid will not meet his full potential IMO, but it's what the parent wants. I wouldn't say the incident at the game was hilarious. I would say it is sad. I know the kid has had issues in the past, but he and his parents also had adults promising this kid things they knew they couldn't deliver. I actually for sorry for the kid and his parents to some degree. I'm sure they didn't realize they were leaving a far more talented team with far more proven coaches, and were basically listening to the wrong people. I wish the kid the best..whatever he does!!

I respectfully disagree with your bolded statement.

However, the KHSAA has allowed recruiting to go on unpunished for so long, there have bee players in the 14th region where English wasn't their first language. I think recruiting is wrong, and should be punished no matter what school is involved. That, obviously, is not going to happen.

I don't think bear claw meant to sound as insensitive as he did, Professor. I personally know of two people who are actively trying to recruit our football players. Both are "money men", and both are liars and cowards. Being in the position that bear claw is in, he MAY know of those as well. Knowing for a fact, what ugly crap goes on under the political tables in our area, makes one pretty defensive when it comes to discussing the athletic transfers in our area.

I don't know the reasons that Miller transferred. I do know that this is not the first time that he has transferred to a different school to play basketball. I also feel like the display of anger and unsportsman like conduct that he displayed after our game should've been addressed. Knowing Parks, I believe it was, too.

When a kid goes to another school to get more playing time (even though it's supposed to be illegal), I can really understand it. There's one county transfer on that city team that is tops in my book for integrity and character. This kid plays his guts out every single minute of every single game. When he transferred, nobody even knew it until they saw him dressed in green that first game. The story with Miller was quite the opposite. There were taunts, name calling threats and the now popular "twin towers" T-shirts.

There are just ways that you can do this with class. It's the player's choice how to do it.