H-F Athlete Sues School Over Alleged Recruiting Violations

A Homewood-Flossmoor student athlete is taking the school to court for what she claims are unfair recruitment practices by new girls basketball coach Anthony Smith, reports the Sun-Times Media.

The suit, filed in court on Wednesday, alleges Smith of recruiting six of his former players from other schools. It also claims Smith promised the six new players’ parents their girls would have starting positions on the team and they would get help in getting athletic scholarships for college, according to reports. The IHSA has a rule that prohibits any recruiting, no matter where the students live.

“That’s something that I’m not thinking about or not worrying about because that’s just not true,” Smith told the Sun-Times Media.

While the suit calls the transfer of students a violation of IHSA rules, District 233 says the association approved all six transfers, according to the report.

The plaintiff, who is a minor, is asking for the termination of Smith and athletic suspension for the six transfer players until the IHSA can look into the recruiting violation claims.