[nannook]

Read this article. Anyone know about this program in Jackson?


Updated: January 7, 2013, 5:02 PM ET
By Dave Telep | ESPN RecruitingNation

The search for the lost sophomore


The first time I encountered sophomore Jamar Ergas (Toronto/22 FT Academy) was last summer at the Elite 24. I'm still not sure how he did it, but Ergas made his way into the slam-dunk competition. When I saw his name, I immediately did a Google search on him.

As a dunker and athlete, he was more than legit. Then he proved himself and won. Listed as a player at Riverside Academy in North Carolina (my home state), I walked away excited about the next three years.

So here we are in January and no sign of Ergas, who transferred last year from Montverde. After a few calls, I was still being told he was in North Carolina outside Lumberton. Nope. Burlington Academy in Burlington, N.C.? Nope. Not Riverside either.

So I'm thinking, how hard can it be to find a guy these days? I turned to Twitter and didn't receive the correct answer. Later in the day, a supposed student tweeted me that she'd heard Ergas was enrolling in her school, Breathitt County in Kentucky, in the next few days. This was getting interesting.

I tracked down Ryan Schmidt, a name that kept popping up regarding Ergas. Schmidt is Ergas' coach at 22 FT Academy in Jackson, Ky., about an hour and a half outside Lexington. Only 22 FT Academy isn't a school. The players attend Breathitt High in Jackson. They play for 22 FT Academy, a program with roots in Europe as a basketball training school, which competes against prep programs and junior colleges.

Still with me?

Here's a sophomore originally from Canada who attended one school as a freshman, transferred (not sure how many times) and is now playing in Kentucky. It's early, but realistically you begin to wonder about transcript issues down the road. I'm not picking on Ergas. He seemed engaging and eager in August at the Elite 24, but he's on track to attend college in 2015 and time is ticking on that transcript. The NCAA is serious about making entrance into college tougher for student-athletes (especially beginning in 2016).

I'm pulling for this guy to have it figured out and hoping that the folks instructing him can provide the stability and academic guidance needed to transition from high school to college. This one looks complicated already and it's not halfway through his high school career.

Make no mistake, though, Ergas isn't the lone guy in the boat. Student-athletes need to understand the gravity of the NCAA's focus on transcripts and academics.

[McCameraMan]

What the heck?

[WBA]

Wow!!!! Crazy but interesting.

[Altro Cat]

I was wondering how long it would be until this news found Bluegrass Rivals.

They will be playing some home games in the Coliseum. Like the article says they are also attending school with the regular students taking regular high school classes.

I'm excited to go watch them play a few games. Ergas in particular has some nice highlight videos up on YouTube. Not sure how good he is as a basketball player but he can dunk with the best of them. I have been told that several of the kids are being recruited to play high level division one basketball, UConn, UNC, etc.

[Downtown10]

How long has this place been around?

[Diogenes]

Awesome. Cause, you know, we didn't have enough Canadian basketball prospects in EKY.

[KingRex]

That is very interesting. Has this been some big top secret thing? Do the kids go to Breathitt High School? It seems like someone would've noticed some kids walking around the hallway and wonder why in the world they are not on the school team? I wouldn't mind going and watching a few games myself. Sounds like there is some definite talent... :Thumbs:

[Johnny_Ringo]

Jamar Ergas will be moving in with Heston Beverly soon. Done deal baby. I hear Heston also has the Dunking Dutchman coming to. Heston is the Schmidts assistant coach right now. Heston will get them ready for the 14th Region.

[Cat Daddy]

Jamar Ergas will be moving in with Heston Beverly soon. Done deal baby. I hear Heston also has the Dunking Dutchman coming to. Heston is the Schmidts assistant coach right now. Heston will get them ready for the 14th Region.

I would be very surprised if this happens. Some of these young men are elite high school prospects and playing in the 14th region would not benefit these young men in any way. Why would you compete against teams in the 14th region, when you can compete against elite prep schools and other national powerhouse programs such as Huntington High. These young men get exposure from playing the best players in the country not the best players in East Kentucky. In no way am I knocking the 14th region or Eastern Kentucky because there are some great players and teams in this area but realistically I don't see this happening.

[Smackthefloor]

News is going around today that they are going to be kicked out of Breathitt County today. Don't know the details but people are saying that the academy has been kicked out of several other states and Kentucky is forcing them out also. Don't the schools investigate these things.

[KingRex]

Jamar Ergas will be moving in with Heston Beverly soon. Done deal baby. I hear Heston also has the Dunking Dutchman coming to. Heston is the Schmidts assistant coach right now. Heston will get them ready for the 14th Region.

Who is the head coach of this team? Is Heston Beverly the assistant coach for this team?

[Heisenberg2010]

Why did they get kicked out? would have liked to see this team play

[KHSAA12]

Frimpong and Lucin(Cordia players) seem to know everyone of these guys. All a at breathitt they was all buddy buddy like. Are all their players from Canada? Would like to see them play if their this good. May end up somwehere in the 14th if they get kicked out of Breathitt and already have hometown friends in the region.

[jamesclay]

Frimpong and Lucin(Cordia players) seem to know everyone of these guys. All a at breathitt they was all buddy buddy like. Are all their players from Canada? Would like to see them play if their this good. May end up somwehere in the 14th if they get kicked out of Breathitt and already have hometown friends in the region.

Some of them are from Canada. They all came from the same AAU program...were encouraged to head to America...have all been placed here in hopes of earning college scholarships.

I could write a book on this but I'll just stop here in the best interests of the kids.

[cksportsfan]

The 22 Foot Academy is being discussed TODAY by the KHSAA board of Control:

http://portal.ksba.org/public/Meeting.as...cyTypeID=1

Here's another newspaper article on it:

http://portal.ksba.org/public/Meeting/At...tID=156586

[panther nation]

Unbelievable that this can happen in today's sports!!!

[Curveball 24]

Who knew the talent pool was this good in Canada? Sheray Thomas was a joke!!!

[Observing]

Can't see what possible reason the KHSAA has for discussing 22ft. Academy.
It has NOTHING to do with them.

[Curveball 24]

Can't see what possible reason the KHSAA has for discussing 22ft. Academy.
It has NOTHING to do with them.

This is true! They are not a part of the KHSAA?

[Hit and Run]

I don't understand what the problem is. These kids are not competing in KHSAA sanctioned activities. They are just going to high school and basically playing on a year-round travel program. It is definitely odd, but I don't see a problem with it at all. They aren't allowed to play any teams that belong to KHSAA so why can they do anything about it?

[11thRegionHoops]

I agree, this shouldn't be in the KHSAA's jurisdiction whatsoever. Having zero prior knowledge on why they are looking into it, maybe it has something to do with a Kentucky high school making money off the gate at one of their games or something and that could be viewed as an unfair advantage but I don't even know if they've played any games at a KY high school so who knows.

[11thRegionHoops]

If that is the case, that is ridiculous. There is no way the KHSAA should be allowed to tell a particular school how they can use their gym, etc.

[Altro Cat]

State doesn't want them using publicly funded facilities. That is why they have played at Oakdale and JBS so far because they are private school facilities.

It is kind of crazy to think that the state is telling a school that they can't use their own gym though. The school could use the money and it would be put right back into the school to the benefit of the students.

[hitter]

Since Ergas will be living with Heston Beverly do you think he will enroll in perry central[/U]

[Observing]

Evidently the BC board had adopted a policy preventing the commercial
use of the facility. Which is ABSURD for those who can remember seeing
circuses perform there, and non-school events through the years.
As someone else pointed out, in an era of strapped finances for
all public entities, how stupid can you be to prevent something
that might put a little money int he system's coffers?

[bigbadwolf]

folks i have seen these kids play and they can reallly play. they are well organised, coached well, and they are destroying teams with discipline. we heard they have some good kids coming in from europe and are legit, not a hole in the wall school like those dudes in nc and other states. i heard on the grapevine they are being upfront with all them people in frankfort and the khsaa, as they seem to have asked for a meeting with them so they can explain their vision for the next five years. But the khsaa havent replied.also heard they have a 7ft 1 and a 7ft 2 kid from Russia and Italy coming. looked at the game the other night and they took the team apart with class. not showmanship but organised basketball. they play D they can go one on one with the best of them. i will be watching them on monday as a team from NC is travelling to play them. i asked a few guys at the breathitt school and they seem to have fitted in to the community, got good grades and lead normal lives, UCLA, Florida, NC and a few other big time colleges have been to see them and rate them in the top of the nation. And without the strings attached. looking forward to hearing others who have seen them.

[Heisenberg2010]

Has this team already played games here? and if not, when do they start

[Altro Cat]

Has this team already played games here? and if not, when do they start

I don't have a schedule but I do know they have played at least a couple at Oakdale and one at Alice Lloyd.

[ballboy]

He will be a Perry Central Commadore next year from what im told

[jamesclay]

Yes they have been playing games and they're good.