EGUSD Investigating Sheldon Basketball

Officials with the Elk Grove Unified School District are investigating the Sheldon High School boys’ basketball program for possible CIF rules violations.

In confirming the investigation, EGUSD interim athletic director Todd Reiswig would not say what the nature of those alleged violations is.

“This is our standard protocol when questions arise,” Reiswig wrote in an email to the Citizen. “It’s an ongoing investigation and we can’t comment on details at this time.”

Likewise, Sheldon principal Paula Duncan would not comment on the investigation, but indicated officials are questioning the eligibility of several players who enrolled at the school this academic year, but attended and played basketball elsewhere last season.

“With everything that is happening, I can’t really talk about it until we’re done with our part and the district is done with their part, but we’ve had a lot of transfers this year,” Duncan said.

A roster of this year’s Sheldon varsity basketball team has not been posted on Maxpreps.Com. A request for a team roster was made through head coach Joey Rollings and with Duncan, but a copy of one has not been provided.

Reiswig likewise said he doesn’t have a team roster, “….because the roster is not finalized. The school is awaiting final decisions from the (Sac-Joaquin) Section office.”

All athletic transfers must be approved first by the school, then the school district, but ultimately by officials with the Sac-Joaquin Section. Section officials have refused comment on the Sheldon situation nor the district's investigation.

Both Reiswig and Duncan refused to talk about the eligibility status of specific transfers citing student confidentiality.

In a July 2 story in the Citizen, Huskies’ head coach Joey Rollings talked openly about several players participating in the school’s summer basketball program with intentions of transferring to Sheldon for the current academic year.

Rollings said a pair of incoming seniors, one from Capital Christian and the other from Modesto Christian, was participating in the summer program.  

CIF rules mandate a transfer must sit out the first 30 days of the season, unless the student/athlete’s family makes a valid change of address  into the school’s attendance area. If an athlete switches high schools for a second time, he or she would be ineligible for one year in the varsity sport or sports in which they participate.

The Huskies have already played three games this season, defeating Oakland Tech and losing Wednesday to Modesto Christian, 61-50. The third game was a Section “Foundation” game at Granite Bay and neither wins nor losses are recorded for Foundation games.

Sheldon is scheduled to play Dec. 19-21 at the Tarkanian Classic in Las Vegas.

Like most of the other EGUSD high schools, Sheldon has an open enrollment policy.  

When asked if recent successes by the Huskies’ basketball program – winning the last four Section Division I titles in a row – was the main reason for an influx of transfers Duncan responded: “Let me answer your question with a question; is it natural for baseball players to attend Elk Grove and the football players attend Elk Grove and (Pleasant Grove)? Yes, I think the good programs attract the kids.”

Duncan said she believes the investigation and the determination of eligibility of her school's players will be completed soon.

“In education you have to believe in the process and hopefully through this process we will have accurate information,” she said.