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Ian Boys Cleared by CIF
Will Play for Simi Valley--(November 6, 1997)

The Simi Valley team just got a little bit better, and the other coaches in the Marmonte League have gotten a little bit madder, more determined that ever to beat Simi this year. In a remarkable decision yesterday, the Southern Section CIF's decision to declare Simi Valley intended transferee Ian Boys' (6'-7" Sr. C) ineligible was reversed. Boys is now the legal ward of the parents of another Simi Valley standout player, Branduinn Fullove, and Boys will now be eligible to play for Simi this year, and can join the team immediately.

Dean Crowley, the Southern Section's Commissioner, had originally declared Boys' ineligible, ruling that the transfer was not proper because Boys' had transferred solely to play basketball at Simi, which is not permitted under CIF rules. In the last few years, Simi has managed to attract star players from Australia, Pomona, Winnetka, and now Ventura.

Crowley told the Daily News that he was not unhappy with the committee's decision to allow Boys to play. "What I saw [originally] was a high-profile basketball player moving from one program to another high-profile basketball program. " But he added about the latest decision "It was due process and that is the strength of this organization."

Boys had been the star of the Ventura program last year, leading Buena High School in scoring and rebounding. He will now join the Simi program where he will be joined by Fullove, Rafael Berumen and Brett Michel.

Fullove himself attracted attention last year when he transferred to Santa Susana, a small magnet program that does not have a basketball program. At the time, he and his parents still lived over the hill, in the San Fernando Valley, which is in the LA Unified School District, not the Simi District. Because Santa Susana does not have an athletic program, its player participate in a lottery and can be assigned to play for either Simi Valley or Royal High. Simi was selected, causing an uproar among other Marmonte League coaches. The Fulloves have since moved into the district, and Fullove now attends Simi Valley full-time.

The criticism from the Marmonte League coaches, players and athletic directors was universal. The LA Times this morning has reported that Royal Coach Larry Wiksell was one of the most upset. "For some reason, Simi Valley has a way of getting what it wants all the time. I think Simi Valley more and more is making itself the black sheep of the league."

Agoura Coach Bill Sanchez was also quoted by the Times as saying "With as many mercenaries as they have, I can't wait to play them."

One of the most vocal critics was Newbury Park's standout player this year and top prospect Dan Bobik, who told the Times "It's real frustrating to see them come up with new players every year. I think the CIF is gutless."

Joe Vaughan, the Buena AD told the Times "I still believe it has a smell to it. But obviously we will live by the decision. That's what the CIF is all about."

John Crow, the AD at Agoura High, told the Times "For me, it seems like a blatant use of recruiting. I know the coaches have talked about [boycotting] Simi. But regardless of how they got those kids, we'll go out and play them."

Joe Pawlick, the AD at Westlake, told the Times that the transfer of Boys from Buena to Simi "was not on a level playing field."

Boys' father, Bobby Fullove was very happy at the result. He told the DN "I knew if any body would hear the facts of the matter it wouldn't have been an issue. The Boys and Fullove families have been friends for years through club basketball, and Bobby Fullove had previously coached a traveling team in 1994 on which Brett Michel, Fullove, Berumen and Boys had played.

According to the Times' story, the bulk of the investigation into whether Simi had recruited Boys, or whether the transfer was for personal reasons unrelated to basketball centered on a telephone call which Boys had with Glen Hannah, the Buena coach on July 13, in which he told Hannah that he was going to be transferring. Hannah allegedly asked him where he would transfer to, and Boys told him he would move to Simi. However, the speculation increased because if that was true, and Boys intended to be living with the Fulloves, the call took place at least a month before the Fulloves moved from Winnetka to Simi.

Boys however presented evidence that the transfer was because of the devastating circumstances occurring in his family life, and that he planned to move with the Fulloves because his parents were estranged from one another, and had just declared bankruptcy.

Nevertheless, while the the Committee hearing the matter yesterday was concerned about the timing and the sequence of events, Committee President Tom Triggs concluded that there was no evidence to support the conclusion that Boys' transfer should not be approved. Accordingly, the Committee reversed Crowley's decision, and Boys will now be eligible to play.

According to the Time's story, there was a costly investigation, including the CIF hiring a private investigator. Because the decision was overturned, the cost will be split between the Southern Section and Simi.

Simi Coach Dean Bradshaw was pleased with the decision, and apparently plans to ignore the critics. He told the Times "We can't worry about it."

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