HS Player in Recruiting Complaint Ruled Ineligible

One of two Fort Myers High School girls basketball players named in a recruiting complaint to the FHSAA was declared ineligible by the state association on Wednesday.

The school, player and her family have an appeal scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Thursday in Bradenton.

The FHSAA did not name which of the two players named in a complaint from the parents of another Green Wave player was declared ineligible.

"Based on the documentation we received yesterday, one student-athlete was deemed eligible. The other will still have their appeal heard at 10:30 a.m.," FHSAA spokesman Kyle Niblett wrote in an email to The News-Press.

Fort Myers High athletic director Cameron Yearsley also declined to name which player was ineligible.

"Everyone who needs to know knows," Yearsley said. "I notified the parents, and we'll go there tomorrow. They're going to talk and plead their case. We presented everything we had."

Dennis and Cynthia Townsend, the parents of a senior on the Fort Myers team, alleged two Green Wave freshmen live improperly in homes owned by the family of Fort Myers assistant coach Jamie Outten.

One of the players' mothers, Medericka Williams, previously told The News-Press that "I've been there," and that the Outten family has had legal custody of her daughter since moving from Lakeland to Fort Myers in 2015. Williams' daughter played for St. Michael Lutheran School in Fort Myers in 7th and 8th grades.

Williams declined comment to The News-Press Wednesday.

The father of the other freshman could not be reached Wednesday.

The Townsends made their complaint to Fort Myers High School in November. They also alleged conflicts of interest and other concerns stemming from Outten and his travel basketball program, Florida Future, for which both freshmen play.

Outten and Fort Myers head coach Chad Terrell previously declined comment on the allegations.

At the request of Fort Myers High School Principal David LaRosa, the Lee County School District submitted enrollment information to the FHSAA in late December.

Wednesday's ruling comes after FHSAA compliance staff requested additional information on the case earlier this week.

Fort Myers (11-3), favorites to win a third consecutive state title this season in Class 7A, plays Thursday night at home against Island Coast (4-9).

Follow @NewsPressSeth on Twitter.

Read More of Today's AB Headlines

Subscribe to Our Daily E-Newsletter