(6-21-18) This past year the OHSAA tweaked its transfer rules in hopes of stopping the many transfers that are taking place around the state. Unfortunately in this age of ‘national coverage‘ of high school sports those transfer rules are just writing on a piece of paper.

Five-star Garfield Heights forward Alonzo Gaffney vs. Elyria Catholic

Another reality of transfers of high-profile players hit Ohio High School basketball today with the news that Garfield Heights forward Alonzo Gaffney will be attending a prep school in Connecticut in the fall. The Ohio State commit is consider a five-star prospect and is the top-ranked junior in Ohio according to several national sources.

In April Sidney All-State guard Andre Gordon announced that he will transfer to the nationally known basketball power at Huntington Prep (West Virginia) next year for his Senior season. Last season Gordon averaged 23 points, 5.5 assists and 4.6 rebounds per game, to go with 1,415 career points and is the school’s all-time leader in assists (418) and steals (168). Gordon who was a three year starter as the Yellowjackets QB during the football season had been receiving DI offers, but instead decided to make basketball his main focus.

In a reply to a tweet, soon to be the OHSAA’s new Executive Director Jerry Snodgrass, commented on the ‘recruiting‘ of players who transfer to another school as ‘ one of most difficult to police, enforce, and prove‘.

No OHSAA (or any state association) transfer rule will ever stop Ohio players from being recruited or transferring to a prep school or one that is not a member of a state association around the US or even the ones that are located here in Ohio. The result is seeing the ‘cream of the crop‘ players leaving the state to continue their careers. It won’t improve any time soon…..