http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/college/basketball/cuse_off_his_list_sN04VLI8wUui6QbfO1kwPJ
Top NYC recruit rejects Syracuse over scandal
By ZACH BRAZILLER
Last Updated: 8:10 AM, November 20, 2011
Syracuse was one of the first schools to offer Isaiah Whitehead a scholarship. The Lincoln star’s favorite player is Carmelo Anthony, the Knicks forward and Syracuse alum. And Whitehead has developed a good relationship with the Orange staff.
But in light of the investigation of Syracuse men’s basketball assistant coach Bernie Fine, the nationally ranked sophomore won’t be attending the school, his mother, Ericka Rambert, said. Fine has been accused of allegedly molesting two former ball boys, allegations that Fine and longtime Orange coach Jim Boeheim vehemently deny.
Paul J. Bereswill
BAD EX-’CUSE: Lincoln’s Isaiah Whitehead will not accept a scholarship offer from Syracuse because of the allegations surrounding longtime assistant coach Bernie Fine, says Whitehead’s mother, Ericka Rampert (right).
“They’re definitely off his list,” she said. “Isaiah’s not going there. That’s out of the question. Once you have something like that in the program, you don’t want to be a part of it. You don’t know who else is involved. You don’t know who else knew about it. It’s a lot to deal with.”
Rambert isn’t the only parent, player or coach with those concerns relating to Syracuse or Penn State — which recently fired legendary football coach Joe Paterno for inaction in the wake of his former longtime assistant, Jerry Sandusky, being accused of multiple counts of child molestation.
The two schools have been known to recruit the New York City area furiously — Penn State for football and Syracuse for football and basketball. The Syracuse football team has seven players from the area and Tottenville wide receiver Alvin Cornelius has verbally committed for next year.
Former Cardozo basketball star James Southerland, a junior forward, is expected to play a major role for the Orange this year. Syracuse is also actively recruiting current Cardozo standout Jermaine Lawrence, one of the top juniors in the country.
“If it’s true, it leaves a queasy feeling in my stomach,” Cardozo basketball coach Ron Naclerio said.
Lawrence said he would need to know more before eliminating Syracuse from his list that is 15 schools long. Bronx native Chris McCullough, a top sophomore, echoed that sentiment.
There is much less debate about Penn State. Sandusky has been indicted. School president Graham Spanier was fired for the same reason Paterno was let go. Furthermore, recruits don’t know who will be the coach next year — whether interim coach Tom Bradley will remain or the school will search for someone else.
They don’t know who is responsible for the alleged cover-up, either.
“Their tradition is too rich in history, but the person who contributed that history is no longer there,” said Christ the King tight end Kalief Joyner, who is being recruited by Penn State. “It definitely changed my interest of PSU. It changed a lot of kids’ opinion [in general]. It felt weird watching the game [last] Saturday and not seeing him.”
John Adams wide receiver Shane Hubbard was being recruited by Penn State, and in particular by wide receivers coach Mike McQueary.
Hubbard was in shock when the news broke and McQueary, whom he called “Coach Mike,” was all over ESPN and newspapers nationwide for his role. McQueary told a Pennsylvania grand jury he witnessed Sandusky raping a boy, possibly 10 years old, in a university shower in 2002 and told Paterno about the incident.
“It definitely changed my mind about the school,” Hubbard said. “I don’t know the whole situation, but from the outside it doesn’t look very good. Penn State is one of the best colleges in the country, especially when it comes to football. When something like this happens, it blows your mind.”
Lincoln football coach Shawn O’Connor said the scandal will hurt recruiting for next season.
“You can’t blame new guys for what happened in the past,” he said.
Regardless, the last few weeks have cast doubt on supposedly safe places for coaches and parents to send their players, Rambert said.
“It scares me,” she said. “I don’t know who to trust.”
With additional reporting by Joseph Staszewski.
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