[Platinum & Gold]

Two at East Ridge & one at Southwestern, correct me if I am wrong but they are all sophomores.

With that said, what is their status, are they foreign exchange? If so they are only here for one year or what are they considered if they are going to be here for three years? Did their families move here?

[BlueSky]

All we know for sure is that the KHSAA is a very inconsistent organization. Rules for everyone else, but none for themselves.

[Stardust]

Don't we already have THREE threads about this exact subject. What will we learn that is new in this one????

[Platinum & Gold]

i havent read one thread questioning what they are ... khsaa has nothign to do with foreign exchange, that is the national homeland security.

[Real Badman]

Kasongo at East Ridge is a Junior. My suggestion, if you want to know the full story, go talk to the young men themselves. You won't find the real story on here.

[Easternkyballer]

None of them are foreign exchange the have this yr and 2 yrs remaining Kasongo is a junior though also these kids are great students academic wise also the KHSAA got it right stop being jealous and jump on board people ! This is what the state of kentucky needed Im glad Mr.Tackett give kids a opportunity you never know there home situations back in there countries

[vundy33]

Kasongo at East Ridge is a Junior. My suggestion, if you want to know the full story, go talk to the young men themselves. You won't find the real story on here.

Exactly.

They're not foreign exchange students, they're normal transfers. What else is there to know?

[Mr. Onion Head]

Go ask Brandon Bender. He is the middle-man in all of this. The above posters are correct. They aren't foreign exchange students here, they have been legally adopted by a generous member of the community. Brandon Bender....that is all.

They make basketball more exciting around here, and at East Ridge as I have heard from multiple sources that they have had major problems with one of them in practice. But this is the new EKY basketball. Get used to it I guess.

[OffTheHook]

Kasongo at East Ridge is a Junior. My suggestion, if you want to know the full story, go talk to the young men themselves. You won't find the real story on here.

Noone is mad or upset about these kids trying to better their situation or trying to be noticed for their skills. I wish them nothing but the best.

What everyone is questioning is...Why East Ridge High School in KY?

Why not Lexington, Louisville or Covington?

I mean, these are truly good questions and they would get a WHOLE LOT more recognition for their skills in those areas against MUCH better talent.

[IntheZone]

i think EKY basketball is as good as anywhere! theres tons of talent in the mountains.

[Spud6]

i think EKY basketball is as good as anywhere! theres tons of talent in the mountains.

Exposure is the difference.

[Platinum & Gold]

I am not mad about it or questioning the school or anything else with any of it.

I am just wondering legitimate question what they were, if they were foreign exchange and only had one year or if their families moved here or what it was and how many years.

I couldnt care less if they played for east ridge or who they played for, I have no rooting interest and will enjoy watching talent play... the more the better i say.

[IntheZone]

Exposure is all on the coach. if he gets his team into some big tournys and his kids can play they will get noticed. it also falls on the kids you have to be going to camps and playsome traveling ball if you want to get looked at.

[Real Badman]

Kasongo has already been offered by the University of Arizona.

[Spud6]

Exposure is all on the coach. if he gets his team into some big tournys and his kids can play they will get noticed. it also falls on the kids you have to be going to camps and playsome traveling ball if you want to get looked at.

Not necessarily on the coach. But now as far as the kids getting out and going to camps on their own in the off season. I agree 100 percent.

[McCameraMan]

Can I get some info on the two transfers for ER? I mean I don't even know their names cause everyone calls them " the Canadians " lol. Also, how big are they? And just how good are they? I've heard the guard is really good. Just wondering cause I haven't really heard about any of this yet

[Real Badman]

Ray Kasongo and Tony Wolter. The term "Canadian" is starting to sound a little racy.

[Real Badman]

Go ask Brandon Bender. He is the middle-man in all of this. The above posters are correct. They aren't foreign exchange students here, they have been legally adopted by a generous member of the community. Brandon Bender....that is all.

They make basketball more exciting around here, and at East Ridge as I have heard from multiple sources that they have had major problems with one of them in practice. But this is the new EKY basketball. Get used to it I guess.

I can say this is 100% inaccurate. The two transfers live with another family who will remain unidentified. Bender has no influence in where these two boys stay at.

[Easternkyballer]

Brandon Bender has nothing to do with any canadians. From my understanding there is a guy in lexington, kentucky who is very well respected in the community. Back in his day he was connected to canada, and that is the guy who is the middle man in all this. But Mr Onion head has it all wrong there is no such thing as legally adopting smh!:Thumbs::Thumbs::thanks:

[Mr. Onion Head]

I watched Preston himself tell an old buddy down from down state that Bender asked him if he wanted 2 Canadian players, and he said why not. Either way, the kids were shopped around and Preston was the only one brave enough to take the chance.

Maybe Brandon went through the guy in Lexington you are talking about and he went to Preston but Bender is the man in this one. People all over the country are seeing him do this first hand, even recently with Kentucky commit Enes Kanter.

Wolter is going to be a great PG, but the big guy needs a lot of work. He has no move with his back to the basket, and needs a bit of an attitude change. Just my 2 cents.

[Easternkyballer]

Sorry Mr.Onion Head, but I know all about this one I can for sure tell you Brandon Bender has nothing to do with this whatsoever. The guy who has led the canadians to kentucky is a guy from Lexington, a very respected man in the community who has helped kids for years. This I can assure you no way no how some guy named Brandon Bender, has anything to do with these kids if that were the case why East Ridge?? why not a school in lexington,lville or covington. You can rest assure the guy in Lexington advised those kids to go to East ridge. Also there was never any shopping going around that sounds so dumb to even say, these kids were shopped yeah right sounds foolish. Whatever you heard is way off and very inacurate. But you know what Kentucky is a I heard state I heard this I heard that people stop the BS!! And let's be real what you heard doesn't matter it is the fact that the guy in Lexington is the guy who helps kids from all over. He is an older well respected man named Charles Givens. That is how I know what you heard is off there is no such thing as Brandon Bender

[Easternkyballer]

And what does this Dude Brandon Bender have to do with Enis Kanter is that something you heard or read ??

[McCameraMan]

Thanks Mr. Onion Head!

[Mr. Onion Head]

Sorry Mr.Onion Head, but I know all about this one I can for sure tell you Brandon Bender has nothing to do with this whatsoever. The guy who has led the canadians to kentucky is a guy from Lexington, a very respected man in the community who has helped kids for years. This I can assure you no way no how some guy named Brandon Bender, has anything to do with these kids if that were the case why East Ridge?? why not a school in lexington,lville or covington. You can rest assure the guy in Lexington advised those kids to go to East ridge. Also there was never any shopping going around that sounds so dumb to even say, these kids were shopped yeah right sounds foolish. Whatever you heard is way off and very inacurate. But you know what Kentucky is a I heard state I heard this I heard that people stop the BS!! And let's be real what you heard doesn't matter it is the fact that the guy in Lexington is the guy who helps kids from all over. He is an older well respected man named Charles Givens. That is how I know what you heard is off there is no such thing as Brandon Bender

Brandon knows Preston and threw him a bone with these 2. You just made one of the biggest points that everyone has made about these 2 kids. Why not a school in Lexington, Louisville, or even a school with a higher reputation in EKY like SV, Perry Central, etc?

Why would this well respected individual that helps kids out send them all the way to Lick Creek? Even if Brandon Bender isn't involved you just made this well respected guy sound like an AAU pimp of sorts. So answer it for me....Why East Ridge?

[Easternkyballer]

Im not sure why East ridge, from what I understand it is a good academic school more than anything. I can assure you the guy from lexington is not a aau guy, whatsoever he is a very well respected man in the community. And he has helped kids his whole entire life. What is wrong with Lick creek, kentucky it is a very nice community here.

[vundy33]

Brandon knows Preston and threw him a bone with these 2. You just made one of the biggest points that everyone has made about these 2 kids. Why not a school in Lexington, Louisville, or even a school with a higher reputation in EKY like SV, Perry Central, etc?

Why would this well respected individual that helps kids out send them all the way to Lick Creek? Even if Brandon Bender isn't involved you just made this well respected guy sound like an AAU pimp of sorts. So answer it for me....Why East Ridge?

What's it matter?!!? They want to play ball! None of us know why they came to ER instead of Lex or New York or LA or Mexico City or Kandahar...only way you're going to find that out is to ask them yourself.

[D IT UP]

Didn't ER only beat Allen Central by 2 in a scrimmage game? If so then who cares because there not very effective. I'm calling B.S. all the way around the whole story and these kids are over hyped. Big time basketball players don't leave Canada and come to Kentucky to play at East Ridge High School in the 15th region. They would be at a prep school or in the city.

[Diogenes]

These guys all must have gotten in some kind of trouble in an urban setting that required sending them to the middle of nowhere to disappear for a while. I suppose Lemaster's connections made while inhabiting the bench in Rupp Arena may have figured into why the random selection of East Ridge as opposed to millions of other schools in equally isolated places across the United States.

Guaranteed there's a story behind it all somewhere. And when the self-destruct button gets pressed somewhere around mid-season, it'll all come out. Things like this don't happen without a reason. These two did not just sit around one day and throw a dart blindfolded at a US map to pick their next destination. Will be watching with interest.

[Easternkyballer]

Honestly who cares that their at ER, nobody cares. I could care less if they were at Er or Paducah Tilman or wherever it is. It's really none of my business or concern just like it isn't anyone else business or concern. We all need to worry about ourself and stop being jealous of kids being here to better there lives!

[Real Badman]

keep in mind, dont bring up feat. of peoples personal lives on BGR.