The Harker Preparatory School, a prestigious day school located in an affluent suburb of Washington, D.C., experienced great success on the basketball court this year. The team achieved a remarkable 21-2 record, including a second-place finish at a holiday tournament in Hawaii and a first-place victory at a major tournament in Las Vegas. Despite not being eligible to compete in the Maryland state basketball championships, which are exclusively for public schools, Harker secured third place in the regional rankings of teams throughout the nation in the final USA Today "Super 25" boys’ basketball rankings. These accomplishments are even more astonishing considering that Harker enrolls only 65 students.
While many attribute Harker’s success to the hiring of a new basketball coach with a proven track record of winning, others believe that the school’s inclusion of transfer players, such as a 7-foot-3-inch-tall junior from the Netherlands, also played a significant role in their triumphs. However, the school’s reliance on these students for athletic prowess, including a few older players and academically struggling individuals in the past, as well as their overall approach to building a winning athletic tradition, has sparked discontent among some coaches in the Washington area. Consequently, many of these coaches refuse to schedule games against Harker. Principal John Moylan of De Matha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, MD, a renowned athletic powerhouse, expresses his disapproval: "The athletic program should reflect the abilities of your students. I refuse to schedule a school that has fifth-year players." This negative perception of Harker’s athletic program highlights a growing concern among educators regarding secondary-school sports programs.
The Knight Foundation Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics, a distinguished panel, expressed this concern in their final report last month, cautioning that "some secondary-school programs now imitate the unfavorable aspects of too many collegiate programs."
Although students often transfer from one school to another for academic or personal reasons, questions frequently arise regarding whether student transfers are prompted by high school coaches. Stu Vetter, the basketball coach at Harker Prep, denies any recruitment of athletes by the school, but acknowledges the potential for abuse at the secondary-school level, stating, "Even at the junior high school level, there is definitely room for abuse." During the summer, coaches report seeing athletic directors at basketball camps held at schools, churches, and playgrounds, particularly in major cities like New York, Chicago, and Washington. Concerns about student transfers primarily revolve around private schools, which are not bound by the attendance boundaries that most public high schools adhere to, allowing them to enroll athletes and non-athletes from a wider geographic area. As a result, penalties and rule changes have been implemented in some states. For instance, Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, CA, a Roman Catholic school, faced objections and local media attention when it admitted two cousins who had previously achieved success on the football field at their previous private school. Mater Dei had previously been placed on probation in 1988 for improperly recruiting three student-athletes. However, Lyle Porter, the principal of Mater Dei, affirms that the two students in question enrolled without any recruiting efforts and are expected to graduate this year. Osceola High School in Florida had to forfeit 20 basketball victories due to allegations of recruiting a 6-foot-7 center from a Miami high school. In Illinois, a proposal to elevate all private schools in football and basketball to a higher class was rejected by the Illinois High School Association, as private schools often dominate the state playoffs. Don Robinson, an assistant executive secretary of the ihsa, explains, "Some perceive that nonpublic schools in Illinois have an unfair advantage over public schools because they are not confined by attendance boundaries." The New York State Public High School Athletic Association recently implemented a new rule that prevents a student from participating in a sport they previously played if they transfer schools without a corresponding change in address. While aimed primarily at private school transfers, several other state high school athletic organizations have adopted similar rules.
Overall, the success of Harker Preparatory School’s basketball team has brought attention to the broader concern over secondary-school sports programs, the potential for abuse in student transfers, and the need for fair regulations and equal opportunities for all schools and athletes.
In the previous year, Harker Prep was part of a league consisting of several small private schools in the Washington area. However, the school officials decided to elevate the level of basketball played at the school. In order to achieve this, they admitted two talented basketball players who had faced academic challenges in the District of Columbia public schools. One of the players had already graduated from a Washington high school, while the other had been declared academically ineligible at another school. Harker officials facilitated the payment of their $6,300 tuition and reduced their academic responsibilities.
According to Mr. Kieffer, the second student struggled to adapt to the academic standards of the private school and was dismissed after frequently missing classes. In this academic year, the school hired a new basketball coach, Mr. Vetter, who had a remarkable track record of 348-58 during his 15-year tenure at Flint Hill Preparatory School, a private high school in Oakton, Virginia. When he changed jobs, Mr. Vetter brought along two transfer players, including a 7-foot-3 center named Serge Zwikker from the Netherlands.
Harker faced no restrictions when it came to playing transfer students, as private schools in Maryland are not affiliated with the state’s high school athletic association. As a result, the school had an outstanding season, finishing with a nearly perfect record and its first-ever position in the final national rankings published by USA Today.
However, some coaches in the Washington area expressed concerns about the quick growth of the Harker program, particularly due to the inclusion of players who did not originate from the school or its local community. Mr. Moylan of De Matha, for instance, believes that the situation where students come from different locations to attend a private school or receive scholarships for playing basketball is unhealthy. He highlights that almost every member of De Matha’s undefeated basketball team entered the school as freshmen, and the team concluded the season with an impressive 30-0 record, ranking eighth in the nation according to USA Today.
Mr. Kieffer refrains from disclosing specific details about the financial aid provided to student-athletes, stating only that many students at the school receive assistance. He emphasizes that the school deserves recognition for prioritizing the academic development of these student-athletes, who often progress through the public school system with little focus on their academic performance. Mr. Kieffer asserts that many places neglect the educational aspect of sports while letting the athletes compete, resulting in athletes struggling to secure college admission after completing high school. He receives numerous calls each week from athletes in such predicaments.
Both Mr. Kieffer and Mr. Vetter deny the notion that Harker actively recruits student-athletes. According to the coach, they are not engaged in the business of recruiting basketball players. Mr. Vetter believes that talented players will naturally gravitate towards reputable programs. Contrary to the concerns raised by others, he does not perceive any dangers in seeking a national ranking or participating in tournaments nationwide. He considers traveling with the team as an educational experience in itself. Mr. Vetter mentions that the team will be traveling to Hawaii again next season, during the long Christmas break when no school is missed.
During the summer, the school plans to host its first basketball camp, offering young basketball players the opportunity to learn more about Harker Prep. Mr. Vetter expresses his anticipation for the increased recognition the school will receive as a result of the camp.
