Post by 50yardfan on Apr 29, 2011 23:10:44 GMT -5
[oipheroes 2011-04-27 11:43:53]:
Daniel Hicks, former owner of the failed WV Wild basketball and indoor football team is attempting to start a private school in Charleston WV. Beyond running the Wild basketball team into the ground and failing to play one game with his football franchise Hicks was also arrested in 2008 with two pounds of marijuana in his car.
Daniel Hicks, former owner of the failed WV Wild basketball and indoor football team is attempting to start a private school in Charleston WV. Beyond running the Wild basketball team into the ground and failing to play one game with his football franchise Hicks was also arrested in 2008 with two pounds of marijuana in his car.
Do homework before hitting proposed prep academy
wvgazette.com/Sports/todayssportscolumn/201104261167?page=1&build=cache
A SUNDAY message board post on popular website BlueGoldNews.com claimed that a "brand new West Virginia Prep Academy is opening in South Charleston."
The post, not generated by those running the site, went on to name popular former state athletes set to be coaches at the proposed academy, including ex-WVU Mountaineer Aaron Beasley. Big story right? Especially for readers in the Kanawha Valley.
There are two words, however, those interested should heed:
Buyer beware.
A website has been created for the possible school. It claims the academy will be "entering our 1st season with the boys basketball team and boys football."
The thought from here is the academy would be patterned after Huntington Prep, where enrollees attend St. Joseph Central Catholic by day and train for basketball by night.
The man behind the South Charleston deal, Daniel Hicks, however, said that's not the case. Grades nine through 12 would be taught. He claims the school will be "certified through the board of education."
"We've put in the paperwork," Hicks said.
I called the state superintendent's office to confirm and was directed to the office of Betty Jordan, superintendent Jorea Marple's executive assistant, who handles private school requests.
"I have Betty Jordan's database in front of me," said Jordan's assistant, Natalie Proctor. "I'm not showing anything on them."
Hicks said his sister, Janice, was handling that side of the project, but gave me a number that's been disconnected.
A call was also placed to Kanawha County School Board member Becky Jordon. She had not heard of the project. She called Kanawha Superintendent Dr. Ron Duerring.
"He said he's never heard of Daniel Hicks," Jordon said. "He said nobody's approached him about this."
A call was also placed to South Charleston Mayor Frank Mullens, who said he wasn't aware of such an academy being placed in his city.
"Our curriculum is certified," Hicks said. "All that needs done is the building needs to be inspected, which will happen in the next couple of days."
That might be difficult to do. According to Hicks, the location of the school is "on MacCorkle Ave., by the Taco Bell. It's going to be like a boarding house with dorms for overseas students." He said he was negotiating the lease.
The building is owned by Dr. M.A. Gannon and operated through FOG Corporation. When reached on Wednesday, FOG representative Robin Clark said the building is large enough for such an undertaking at 8,300 square feet. A day-care center had been there.
"But there's no lease," Clark said. "Someone looked at the space, but as far as filling out paperwork, no."
So there's no paperwork in the state superintendent's pipeline. Neither Duerring nor Jordon knew anything of the project. A lease hasn't been signed. Yet the academy, according to Hicks and the academy's website, is supposed to open this fall.
In the initial interview, Hicks said the idea blossomed after he was exposed to Findlay College Prep in Las Vegas. That's a "program for exceptional student basketball athletes to receive a top-notch educational experience; academically, athletically and socially while creating the opportunity for each member to attend the colleges/universities of their choice," according to its website. That academy is part of the Henderson International School, which is a college preparatory school for students in pre-school through 12th grade.
Hicks also mentioned Fork Union Military Academy.
"A lot of kids need prep school," Hicks said. "A lot of kids with Division I [athletic] talent need help or their careers are done."
He said South Charleston standout and former Kennedy Award winner Tyler Harris is planning to attend. (A call was placed to Harris, who said he'd call back today to discuss his situation.) Hicks also said he's "signed a couple of linemen and wide receivers from overseas." He mentioned Warren, Ohio, wideout Edward Killingsworth, who may be committed to Louisville.
"This year," Hicks said. "We'll have post-graduate football and basketball for the boys. We'll have varsity boys basketball. We'll have varsity girls basketball."
Again, though, there's no building yet. There's no approval from the state superintendent. Accreditation? On Tuesday, when one clicked that tab on the academy website, nothing popped up.
If Hicks' name sounds familiar, by the way, he played high school ball at South Charleston and college ball at New Mexico State and Concord. He's also dipped into the always-doomed semi-pro football scene. He entered a Huntington-based team in the Continental Indoor Football League and even rented a billboard in the Cross Lanes area.
But then the CIFL announced the indefinite suspension of the team, called the Wild, citing the team's failure to provide key items such as proof of insurance.
"We gave Dan [Hicks] many opportunities to complete the steps needed to be an organization in this league and, unfortunately, he didn't complete several of them," CIFL co-founder Jeffrey Spitaleri said via a press release at the time.
In regard to the West Virginia Prep Academy, Hicks said it's a school that's needed in the Valley. He also said it's something he wants.
"I like to be around and develop kids," Hicks said.
Again, though, buyer beware.