Reading preseason expectations for local high school boys basketball teams caused concern about the Trenton Central High School squad.
A thumbnail sketch that listed the Tornadoes as young and in need of experience produced one question — What ever happened to Kabrien Goss, the Tornadoes 5-7 guard with scintillating fast break speed, a confident jump shot that took him beyond the 3-point line, and fearless improvisation that drove him into the lane where ball-swatting giants lurked.
An internet search found Goss, a senior, on the Roman Catholic High team in Philadelphia. Goss, after a solid sophomore season at Solebury, followed by a superb junior season at Trenton, had moved on.
Sure, living in America allows lots of freedom, especially regarding choice, but disappointment exists with this build a new team by receiving talented players from other programs and thereby depleting others. In this case, Trenton High (0-3) faces a difficult season without Goss.
The all too familiar basketball plot that allows gym jumping, continues a sad chapter for high school athletics.
A City of Basketball Love article by Owen McCue offered this preview for Roman Catholic: “Senior guard Hunter Johnson, who averaged 11.0 ppg as a sophomore at Cardinal O’Hara in 2021-22, returns to the area after spending last season at Orlando Christian Prep (Fla.).
Other additions included: Senior 6-3 guard Travis Reed who averaged 12.1 ppg at Frankford; senior 5-7 guard Kabe Goss averaged 15.6 ppg, 4.0 apg, 4.0 rpg and 3.5 spg at Trenton (N.J.); senior 6-5 wing C.J. Miller averaged 7.9 ppg Woodbury (N.J.); and sophomore wing Malik Hughes an intriguing piece from Cheltenham.”
The Cahillites claimed a Catholic League Championship and dropped a overtime thriller to Reading for the PIAA Class 6A championship last season then waited as blue-chip players filled a depleted roster. An admission that no suggestion of impropriety exists here should avoid potential litigious circumstances.
While Goss headed to Roman Catholic another local player joined his third team in as many seasons. Michael “Deuce” Jones, who played at Trenton Catholic Academy as a sophomore then left the Iron Mikes program for St. Thomas Aquinas (Metuchen), plays a final high school year at College Achieve Public Charter School in Asbury Park/Neptune. Dave Boff, guides the new charter school after 15 seasons at Roselle Catholic where his teams claimed four Tournament of Champions titles.
Jones, who will play college ball at La Salle, lists as one of several Boff players seated for either 22 or 30 days due to NJSIAA transfer rules. This marks the first school year CAPS educates a senior class.
While the NJSIAA prohibits recruitment of athletes, proving illegalities seems difficult. Transfers speak for themselves and state officials mete out detailed punishments for players, especially those who transfer in-season.
The NJSIAA advances a self-described mission to administer education-based interscholastic athletics, which support academic achievement, good citizenship, and fair and equitable opportunities:
“Transfers for athletic reasons undermine the stability of sports programs, elevate athletics over academics, lead to disparities in competitiveness, and erode the level playing field that the NJSIAA seeks to foster. Multiple transfers within a high school career disrupt a student’s education. Transfers after a sports season has started not only disrupts the team, but also the competitive balance among schools.
This rule is designed to discourage transfers for athletic reasons, multiple transfers, and transfers after a sports season has begun, by imposing short but predictable periods of ineligibility for those transfers while providing one penalty-free transfer under certain conditions.
Because the periods of ineligibility set forth in this rule are among the shortest in the nation, and the purpose of the rule is designed to deter inappropriate transfers, there shall be no waivers of this rule.”
A personal dislike for multiple transfers, and mind you, these movements occur predominantly for boys basketball, underscores the interruption of social development. Unmeasurable value exists for an athlete who spends four years in one place.\
Plus, staying put, helps in the construction of strong academic-athletic programs for schools.
***
Former TCA star Khalif Battle lives a collegiate life similar to Goss and Jones. Battle played at Butler, Temple and now suits for Arkansas.
L.A. Parker is a Trentonian columnist. Find him on Twitter @LAParker6 or email him at [email protected].
