The Columbus Dispatch reported that a nine-month OHSAA investigation resulted in an immediate ban of all Harvest Prep’s teams from postseason play through 2013. It must also pay a $2,500 fine, an additional $30,000 for OHSAA lawyer fees and will be overseen by an OHSAA official on its daily operations for the next two years.
Football and boys and girls basketball games were among its forfeitures. However, no mention was made of Harvest Prep’s consecutive girls state Division IV basketball titles from 2009-11. Prep beat Fort Loramie in the 2010 state semifinals and 2011 state final.
Thirteen Harvest Prep coaches were cited as not having a required “pupil activity/coaching permit,” last fall, including superintendent and head football coach Jack Johnson.
Marion Local was the last Miami Valley team to play the Warriors in football, winning 42-7 in 2008. A Harvest Prep spokesman indicated surprise at the penalties and sanctions.
LIONS GRAD NAMED: Sean Taylor, a 1991 Meadowdale graduate, has been picked to succeed Satch Sullinger as the boys basketball coach at Columbus Northland. Taylor had been the head coach at Columbus Eastmoor Academy the last 11 seasons.
Taylor inherits one of the state’s most successful D-I programs. The Vikings are 121-6 the last five seasons, won the 2009 state title and were the state runner-up last March. Northland also has swept the last two Ohio Mr. Basketball awards, Jared Sullinger (2009) and Trey Burke (2010).
Satch Sullinger is the father of Jared, now a standout for Ohio State.
HAWKINS RANKED: Dunbar’s Deontae Hawkins is one of only four Ohioans in the Class of 2012 to crack the Rivals.com national top 150 list. The 6-foot-7 junior is ranked No. 137.
Hawkins lists the University of Dayton, University of Cincinnati, Ohio University and Ball State University among teams to already have offered him an athletic scholarship. He remains uncommitted.
EXTRA POINTS: Lebanon standout Mario Rotello has signed with Stanford to run track and field. The senior excels in the hurdles, long jump and 400. Teammate Jade Kenney is headed to Loyola. Also, Lebanon’s Rachael Debord will play basketball at Bluffton.
• Dunbar senior guard Javon Rice will sign today to play basketball at Urbana. He averaged 8.2 points and 3.4 assists for the Wolverines last season. Coach Pete Pullen also reports that Rice has a 3.56 GPA.
• All-around standout Brandon Fox of Valley View has signed to play football at Georgetown (Ky.) of the NAIA. Fox excelled at running back, defensive back and as a kickoff returner.
ON DECK: Track and field joins the other spring sports for its postseason with this week’s districts at Welcome Stadium and Graham. Baseball, softball and boys tennis are scheduled to have district champs by this weekend.
Contact this writer at (937) 225-2381 or mpendleton@DaytonDailyNews.com.
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