by Kent Sterling
For decades, people have accused Cathedral High School of making the financial burden of attending a little lighter for the families of great athletes who attend the Indianapolis school. Today, one of the best basketball players to come through in years told school officials he will transfer for financial reasons.
[Full disclosure – my son attended Cathedral, earned four varsity letters as a basketball player, and was first team All-City twice. He was awarded a $1,000 annual scholarship because of his entrance exam scores. Not only did he not receive a dime to attend, the coach at Cathedral at the time never saw Ryan play, much less recruit him.]
Jalen Coleman will attend La Lumiere Academy in LaPorte, Indiana, which is not an IHSAA member, so they can offer whatever they like to whomever they like to attend and play basketball. The tuition and room & board for one year runs roughly $35K, and Coleman’s brother also gets a full ride. Two years of Jalen, and four years of little brother, and we’re talking $200K worth of education.
Cathedral’s counter offer – nothing. They don’t pay their athlete’s tuition unless there is a financial need that allows them to help, but there is nothing wrong with helping a family in need unless it is done for athletic reasons.
Public school parents and coaches loathe Cathedral because of their success. They claim that Cathedral has an unfair advantage because they are able to attract students from all over, and offer them incentives. Half true. Cathedral has no boundaries.
And Jalen’s departure from Cathedral should end all the squawking about tuition payments for special athletes.
Here’s Jalen talking about losing his last game in a Cathedral uniform – the state championship game against Carmel:
Kent,
Your premise is absurd. He left one sweet deal to take a MUCH better one. Does a private school have the right to recruit? Yes. They may take into their hallowed halls anyone they wish. More power to them. But you are ignoring, as you said, over 20 years of accusations that they cheated on financial obligations for certain players. I’ll be glad to share my knowledge of more than a few ex athletes who never paid their tution bill versus your pathetic excuse that this proves they didn’t cook the books.
Not to get back into the public-private school debate too much, but public high schools also have no boundaries. Any kid can attend any high school they want…as long as they pay the out of district rate. If you don’t think public schools recruit, you are kidding yourself. I’d submit they do it more.
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