After watching Austin Wiley dominate the paint against Alabama, Saturday, I began to wonder about the process that allowed a guy who would normally be halfway through his Senior year of High School, instead enroll in college and be immediately eligible to play. If this were such an easy process, would it not be more common place at Programs like Duke, Kentucky, UNC, Kansas, etc - Programs that are more involved with "one or two and done"type talents? Would those Programs not be all about getting 2 Conference seasons and NCAA Tournaments out of a player instead of the normal one?
I knew only the basic info on Wiley, but found his situation curious. So I decided to explore it in a little more detail, and learn what I could.
FIRST - A DISCLAIMER OF SORTS
1) I do not like auburn, and believe they have a long history of being willing to bend and break rules
2) I do not like Bruce Pearl, and think his history is much the same (to my knowledge Bruce being hired by AU is the only example of a coach being hired while under a current NCAA Show - Cause)
Now, proceeding...
Austin Wiley announced in August of last year (2016) he was transferring from Spain Park High of Hoover, AL, to a place called Conrad Academy in the Orlando Area. This was reported August 29, 2016 by Matthew Stevens, "Auburn Authority" in Montgomery, and various news outlets...
http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com...wiley-transfers-orlando-prep-school/89570638/
http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2016/09/auburn_basketball_commit_austi.html
Wiley was spotted at a Spain Park Football game August 27, then on the 29th he is headed to Conrad - so why that move?
There was speculation among AUBURN people last spring and summer that Wiley was not very dedicated academically and might not have been eligible academically for Spain Park in 2016-17. If so, that could explain the move. There is a poster on this site with ties to Spain Park that is pretty adamant this was the case.But there are probably just a very few people that know for certain the facts of this matter.
Almost immediately, the same auburn types who had been questioning Wiley's eligibility for Spain Park, began murmuring about the possibility he could graduate before the end of 2016, and be at auburn practicing and perhaps play when January classes began...
The two opposites poles of this matter are...
1) Wiley was in academic straits, and needed help to stay eligible for auburn NEXT year
Or
2) He was ahead of the game academically, and transferred because he could become eligible at Conrad to play for Auburn THIS year
But unless he was pretty far ahead of a normal academic pace, how did he obtain enough credits at Conrad to graduate High School after only 3 months there? Because, in mid December, this was reported...
http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com...olled-and-eligible-play-immediately/95518336/
So, Wiley transfers August 29th or so, and by December 16th the following all have occurred
1) Enrolls at Conrad
2) Graduates from Conrad
3) Applies at Auburn
4) Applies with SEC to be allowed to transfer to Auburn effective immediately
5) Applies with NCAA to do the same
6) Gets accepted at Auburn
7) Gets waiver from SEC
8) Gets waiver from NCAA
9) Is on campus and practicing by Dec. 16th
That is a fast track that you rarely see, especially where clearinghouse type things are involved.
I tried to remember the last time this happened, if ever, and my search revealed it was Jarnell Stokes in 2011. Stokes was able to graduate in December in Memphis, and was allowed to enroll at Tennessee for Cuonzo Martin when January classes began in Knoxville. Interesting, because Bruce Pearl was canned at UT March 22 of 2011, and was the primary recruiter and reason Stokes ended up on The Hill.
Coincidence? Methinks not.
Some notes on Conrad, and these "Prep Schools" or "Academies" popping up in many places.
They are apparently not ruled by normal Florida State High School guidelines. As such, many infuse religion into their curricula, perform the pledge of allegiance to The Flag, and the like. However, they also are not limited into how much time they devote to athletic and academic pursuits. Conrad itself is a k5 to 12th grade, with only about 250 or 300 students, per my research. Also, there are NO academic requirements regarding GPA or the like, which theoretically would make it possible for a top player with academic issues to transfer in and quickly see the ship righted. If you look at the basketball website below, "Scholarships Available" is prominently displayed, and players who board have nice apartments, plenty of amenities, all you can eat, etc.
www.conradhoops.com
The Academy Proper
www.conradacademy.org
In short, these type facilities appear to me to be a sort of AAU Program that is tied in to academics, thus being able to give credits and diplomas. As they are not under FHSAA directives, they can play and practice as they wish, and many play a national type schedule. It would also seem that the opportunities for nefarious activity and skullduggery would be plentiful.
Just a reminder that auburn is no stranger to credit mills based in Florida...
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/1995/dec/14/auburn-reprimands-assistant-players-in-basketball/
I plan on researching this situation more, but thought this much was interesting enough to post in its own thread, per a mod's directive last night.
I knew only the basic info on Wiley, but found his situation curious. So I decided to explore it in a little more detail, and learn what I could.
FIRST - A DISCLAIMER OF SORTS
1) I do not like auburn, and believe they have a long history of being willing to bend and break rules
2) I do not like Bruce Pearl, and think his history is much the same (to my knowledge Bruce being hired by AU is the only example of a coach being hired while under a current NCAA Show - Cause)
Now, proceeding...
Austin Wiley announced in August of last year (2016) he was transferring from Spain Park High of Hoover, AL, to a place called Conrad Academy in the Orlando Area. This was reported August 29, 2016 by Matthew Stevens, "Auburn Authority" in Montgomery, and various news outlets...
http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com...wiley-transfers-orlando-prep-school/89570638/
http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2016/09/auburn_basketball_commit_austi.html
Wiley was spotted at a Spain Park Football game August 27, then on the 29th he is headed to Conrad - so why that move?
There was speculation among AUBURN people last spring and summer that Wiley was not very dedicated academically and might not have been eligible academically for Spain Park in 2016-17. If so, that could explain the move. There is a poster on this site with ties to Spain Park that is pretty adamant this was the case.But there are probably just a very few people that know for certain the facts of this matter.
Almost immediately, the same auburn types who had been questioning Wiley's eligibility for Spain Park, began murmuring about the possibility he could graduate before the end of 2016, and be at auburn practicing and perhaps play when January classes began...
The two opposites poles of this matter are...
1) Wiley was in academic straits, and needed help to stay eligible for auburn NEXT year
Or
2) He was ahead of the game academically, and transferred because he could become eligible at Conrad to play for Auburn THIS year
But unless he was pretty far ahead of a normal academic pace, how did he obtain enough credits at Conrad to graduate High School after only 3 months there? Because, in mid December, this was reported...
http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com...olled-and-eligible-play-immediately/95518336/
So, Wiley transfers August 29th or so, and by December 16th the following all have occurred
1) Enrolls at Conrad
2) Graduates from Conrad
3) Applies at Auburn
4) Applies with SEC to be allowed to transfer to Auburn effective immediately
5) Applies with NCAA to do the same
6) Gets accepted at Auburn
7) Gets waiver from SEC
8) Gets waiver from NCAA
9) Is on campus and practicing by Dec. 16th
That is a fast track that you rarely see, especially where clearinghouse type things are involved.
I tried to remember the last time this happened, if ever, and my search revealed it was Jarnell Stokes in 2011. Stokes was able to graduate in December in Memphis, and was allowed to enroll at Tennessee for Cuonzo Martin when January classes began in Knoxville. Interesting, because Bruce Pearl was canned at UT March 22 of 2011, and was the primary recruiter and reason Stokes ended up on The Hill.
Coincidence? Methinks not.
Some notes on Conrad, and these "Prep Schools" or "Academies" popping up in many places.
They are apparently not ruled by normal Florida State High School guidelines. As such, many infuse religion into their curricula, perform the pledge of allegiance to The Flag, and the like. However, they also are not limited into how much time they devote to athletic and academic pursuits. Conrad itself is a k5 to 12th grade, with only about 250 or 300 students, per my research. Also, there are NO academic requirements regarding GPA or the like, which theoretically would make it possible for a top player with academic issues to transfer in and quickly see the ship righted. If you look at the basketball website below, "Scholarships Available" is prominently displayed, and players who board have nice apartments, plenty of amenities, all you can eat, etc.
www.conradhoops.com
The Academy Proper
www.conradacademy.org
In short, these type facilities appear to me to be a sort of AAU Program that is tied in to academics, thus being able to give credits and diplomas. As they are not under FHSAA directives, they can play and practice as they wish, and many play a national type schedule. It would also seem that the opportunities for nefarious activity and skullduggery would be plentiful.
Just a reminder that auburn is no stranger to credit mills based in Florida...
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/1995/dec/14/auburn-reprimands-assistant-players-in-basketball/
I plan on researching this situation more, but thought this much was interesting enough to post in its own thread, per a mod's directive last night.