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SoCalHoops News Report

Gilbert Arenas: Should I Stay
Or Should I Go?--(June 20, 1998)

Just when we wrote that the "rumors" about Gil Arenas (6'-3" Sr. G) from Grant possibly transferring to another school were just that, i.e, "rumors", the Los Angeles Times publishes an article today that basically confirms what we all know: That any talented player would rather play for a team that has a chance of winning a championship than one that probably doesn't. At least that's what we can discern after reading the LA Times piece which purportedly quoted Arenas as saying that he intends to continue playing on Sylmar's summer league team in the hopes that it will convince his father that they should move to the Sylmar district so that Gil can play his last year for the Spartans.

What we also can glean from reading Arenas' father's statements is that while he believes basketball is important, it's equally important to insure some academic continuity. But will he or won't he succumb to the siren song of the elusive "title"? Only time will tell.

We've reprinted the article here below in it's entirety so that our commentary will make a little sense for those of you who can't get the paper. But as you'll see from reading it, several questions immediately come t mind.

First, how is it that a player who is an enrolled student at one school just "shows up" to play for another school's summer league team, which is coached by the regular varsity coach? How is it that Bort Escoto, Sylmar's varsity coach is permitted to play someone on his team who is not a student at the school?. He basically did the same thing last year when he secured the services of Buckley standout George Wrighster before Wrighster had ever enrolled in a single class or even declared his intention of enrolling at Sylmar. Are there no rules about who can and who can't play on a summer league team which is affiliated with, coached by and presumably funded by a school's athletic department? Can anyone just show up and play?

While we applaud the decision to allow high school coaches to coach their teams during summer leagues, thus giving them more control over where and how their own student-athletes approach their summer improvement plans, we don't think the rule change which permitted high school coaches to coach was intended to alow them to coach non-students on these teams. If there is a loophole in the CIF rules, it should be closed. NOW.

Second, from a personal perspective, Gil doesn't need to transfer, doesn't need t jeopardize his position. And for him, a transfer would make no difference in his future. His fortunes will rise or fall depending upon how he does at the summer camps, most notably, the adidas ABCD camp in Teaneck, N.J., at Fairleigh Dickenson University. It's there, and for better or worse, where most college coaches will make up their mind about whether to ultimately offer Gilbert the ride or not. Those schools that are looking at him, the Arizonas, USC's, Oregon, and others, might consider it "nice" for him to win a City Section title, but it won't really matter because by the time the early signing period comes and goes, that honor still won't have been conferred.

Plainly speaking, it would make far more sense for Gil to concentrate on the camps, evaluate his choices in November, make a decision and then continue to get about the business of QUALIFYING in his core courses and getting a qualifying score on the SAT. All the City titles in the world won't get him past that, and if he qualifies, he can certainly be a D-I impact player. But without that ticket, he can't ride. No matter how good his high school team was.

So who gets to decide? Who makes the choice here: The adult parent, with the long vision, or the kid, who wants what he wants and wants it now?

Sure they're tough choices. Who's to say that David Bluthenthal or Brandon Granville made "bad" choices? They both transferred to Westchester for their senior year, won City, Southern Section, and State Championships, and both got rides at USC. Not a bad career move. Are things the same for Arenas? Consider that Bluthenthal passed up al the summer camps so that he could travel to Israel to play for the US Men's Maccabi team. David had virtually no exposure compared to what Gil will be getting in New Jersey. Sure both played for fine traveling teams.But are the situations comparable and should this be the standard by which Arenas makes his decision? We don't know, but we don't think so.

Make up your own minds as you read the Times article below. But if we had one word of advice to Gil (and we'll admit we've given a few over the last year) we'd say "stay put, get your education, have fun, and be smart."

Anyway, enough sermonizing, here's the Times' article:

What's eating Gilbert Arenas?
For the last three months, rumors have circulated that the All-City guard for Grant High will transfer to another school for his senior season.

"Those are just rumors," said Arenas, laughing. "It's funny because I've heard rumors floating around that I'm going to Crenshaw, Westchester, Canoga [Park]."

In the close-knit fraternity of high school coaches, it didn't take long for the rumors to reach Grant Coach Howie Levine. "[I've] been hearing the rumors for months," Levine said. "[Arenas] told me they're not true . . . and there's no reason not to believe him."

Arenas, a 6-foot-3 point guard who averaged 29.8 points and 5.7 assists last season, arguably will be the region's top college prospect next season. He's a polished gem who has drawn interest from USC, Kansas State and Notre Dame, among others.

Although Arenas dismisses rumors of him leaving Grant, he complains the Lancers compete in low-profile off-season leagues and tournaments. He desires better competition and exposure, the kind he'll get when he plays against other blue-chip recruits in the Addidas New Jersey Invitational in July.

"There are so many schools I don't even get a chance to see or to play against," Arenas said. Arenas' father, Gilbert Sr., has discussed these concerns with Levine. But the elder Arenas says there are no plans to send his son to another school. "At this point, it's rumors," Gilbert Sr. said. "Things don't happen until it happens."

There are signs, however, Arenas might enjoy playing somewhere other than Grant. He played on a summer-league team Monday that included four Sylmar players. "I felt so comfortable with them," he said. City Section players can play with any team from June 1 to Aug. 31.

Sylmar Coach Bort Escoto finds all the transfer talk amusing.

"Is [Arenas] any good?" he asked. Seriously, coach.

"Yeah, I've heard those rumors like every one else has heard those rumors," Escoto said. "Everyone knows about it. [But] if I believed every rumor since I've been at Sylmar, I would have an all-star team."

If Arenas transfers to Sylmar, Escoto could have the City Section 4-A Division contender he has dreamed about since taking over the Spartan program in 1994. Seven players, including five starters, return from Sylmar's 3-A Division championship team.

"[Sylmar] would be a dream school to go to," Arenas said. "[But] I think my dad is in the state of mind that he doesn't want to move back and forth, especially going into my senior year."

Although Sylmar recently filled its open-enrollment slots, there are several ways Arenas could transfer.

He could move into the Sylmar district. Or he could--if he qualified--be accepted into the school's math-science magnet program, which has eight openings. If accepted into the magnet program, Arenas could attend Sylmar without living in the school's boundaries. Magnet students receive transportation to and from school.

Levine, who is concerned he might lose Grant's all-time leading scorer to a rival, is stuck in a wait-and-see mode. "I think we'll have a better idea of where things stand [this summer], but we're not going to know for sure until September," Levine said.

But the writing is on the wall.

"I'm going to keep playing with [Sylmar] and hopefully that will change my dad's mind," Arenas said. Perhaps it already has. "We're going to sit down and we're going to analyze and come to some conclusion," the elder Arenas said. "Sylmar is strong, I can tell you that.