SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- South Charleston's city manager said all of the remaining teenagers who thought they were coming to the area to attend an alleged basketball academy left on Monday.
After some of the information didn't check out, the Gazette published a column headlined, "Do homework before hitting proposed prep academy" that warned students to "beware" before signing up.
Betty Jordan, who handles private school requests as executive assistant to the state superintendent of schools said at the time she didn't have any information about the school. Kanawha County school officials also said they hadn't heard the proposal.
Hicks said Sunday night that he had a letter from Jordan dated July 22 that said his school had been approved.
Teenagers from all over the United States, and France and Africa, had come to South Charleston to attend the prep school.
"They didn't have just your average basketball players," Lee said. "I watched them play and the kids from France and Africa are NBA material.
Lee said the teenager from France had come to South Charleston with his mother, who is still in the area.
"She's torn up, because she had to make a decision whether to send her son on with the coach from Oklahoma or fly them back to France," he said.
Edward Killingsworth, a star football player for a high school in Warren, Ohio, had decided to attend West Virginia Prep Academy "instead of colleges such as Michigan State, Toledo and Ball State," according to an April 27 article in the Tribune Chronicle, a newspaper in Warren.
The article stated the West Virginia Prep Academy is a private school preparing students for college in postgraduate work.
"Daniel Hicks explained attending the school would not affect Killingsworth's eligibility in playing college football and is the equivalent of red shirting in college," the article said.
It is unclear whether Killingsworth is one of the students who came to South Charleston last weekend.
Reach Kate White at kate.wh...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1723.
West Virginia Prep Academy website An article about student Edward Killingsworth
SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- South Charleston's city manager said all of the remaining teenagers who thought they were coming to the area to attend an alleged basketball academy left on Monday.
About 16 to 18 teens were found Friday in a two-bedroom apartment sleeping on the floor, said South Charleston Mayor Frank Mullens. He said it appears that Daniel Hicks, a South Charleston resident, recruited students from around the world to attend a fictitious prep school.
Two coaches, who asked that their names not be used, also were apparently tricked into coming to South Charleston from Oklahoma and North Carolina.
Hicks said his prep academy is legitimate, and is located on Second Avenue on Charleston's West Side. However, he said the teenagers were brought to South Charleston by a coach without his knowledge.
On Monday, the 7 or 8 boys who were 18 or older were sent with one of the coaches to Oklahoma, said Carlton Lee, South Charleston City Manager. He said the assistant police chief and a police detective rented a van and drove them.
"In all my years, I've never seen anything so crazy," Lee said. "We're keeping track of everything we spend. We got a good deal with Greyhound after explaining the situation and the Ramada graciously put them up for free."
Lee said the teens paid $500 up front to enlist in the academy, and were expected to pay $300 every month. Hicks said his school doesn't accept payment.
Mayor Mullens said an FBI investigation into the matter is underway.
According to the West Virginia Prep Academy website, students have the opportunity to participate in football and basketball. The website claims the school helps players move on to four-year university-level athletic programs.
Hicks told the Gazette about his proposed prep school in April.
After some of the information didn't check out, the Gazette published a column headlined, "Do homework before hitting proposed prep academy" that warned students to "beware" before signing up.
Betty Jordan, who handles private school requests as executive assistant to the state superintendent of schools said at the time she didn't have any information about the school. Kanawha County school officials also said they hadn't heard the proposal.
Hicks said Sunday night that he had a letter from Jordan dated July 22 that said his school had been approved.
Teenagers from all over the United States, and France and Africa, had come to South Charleston to attend the prep school.
"They didn't have just your average basketball players," Lee said. "I watched them play and the kids from France and Africa are NBA material.
Lee said the teenager from France had come to South Charleston with his mother, who is still in the area.
"She's torn up, because she had to make a decision whether to send her son on with the coach from Oklahoma or fly them back to France," he said.
Edward Killingsworth, a star football player for a high school in Warren, Ohio, had decided to attend West Virginia Prep Academy "instead of colleges such as Michigan State, Toledo and Ball State," according to an April 27 article in the Tribune Chronicle, a newspaper in Warren.
The article stated the West Virginia Prep Academy is a private school preparing students for college in postgraduate work.
"Daniel Hicks explained attending the school would not affect Killingsworth's eligibility in playing college football and is the equivalent of red shirting in college," the article said.
It is unclear whether Killingsworth is one of the students who came to South Charleston last weekend.
Reach Kate White at kate.wh...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1723.
Get Connected