Garfield High School Athlete Pulled From Classes

One of Garfield's star basketball players, Tony Wroten Jr., was "terminated" (we're assuming that means he was pulled out of school rather than murdered in cold blood) by the Seattle School District this week when they ruled that he doesn't live within district boundaries. The Wrotens have hired a lawyer, and the athlete's father told King 5 that school officials didn't do their homework. His words: "For them to say they've come by here six or seven times and say the car is not here….they never knocked on the door, they never came in, they never talked to our landlord who works in the Seattle School District." Sucks to be Tony Wroten Jr. right now. As an aside, happy finals week to all the students in the land.

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By Katelyn in News on December 10, 2008 10:00 AM

Comments [rss]

bilco

Sorry, tangerine, he's not a 'walking $2M paycheck' - not yet. He's currently ranked as a top 10 prospect for the class of 2011. That's all - a prospect (a very good one, for sure). And even if does end up making $2M at some point, why should he be immune from being alienated??

The NBA is a long way away, particularly at his age. I wish all the best for him - he just needs to have a backup plan. I hope he's able to get back in school and get an actual education.

Uh, and having no plan other than being a professional sports player because sports is your 'life' is pretty much the definition of being a jock.

tangerine

Oh, and this was an issue before. That's why the family bought the apartment.

The whole school is talking about it - this is a /big/ deal. People put up "we want Tony" posters and the like.

tangerine

Um, I think you guys are missing just how much of a star basketball player he is.

He was ranked #1 for his age in the nation before he entered high school, he constantly gets letters from colleges even though he's 15.

Basketball is his life. He's no jock: he's a guaranteed NBA. I'm not sure what his ranking is, but he's definitely in the top 3 or so nationally.

Scouts come to his games, and people go to see him (I have. But I go to school there, so...)

His whole schedule and school plan is basically taking/passing what he needs to to meet the college entrance requirements, but acceptance and paying is not a problem so long as he meets the basic requirements.

They also had someone trail the car and stuff. Not cool, SSD. Alienating a walking $2M paycheck is not cool.

ronaldholden

Wroten's nickname: The Renton Ringer.

Troy Morris

You left Seattlest to write at a sports site.

Just sayin.

Seth

First the Mariners suck...okay, that's region-wide.

Then the Cougs beat the Huskies, pushing the suckiness specifically into Western Washington.

Still, that's a lot of people.

Now, my frigging high school alma mater loses its best player?

GOD WHAT THE SHIT DID I DO???

davidswidler

No confrontation? This is the most Seattle investigation ever.

"They never knocked on the door, they never came in, they never talked to our landlord who works in the Seattle School District."

bilco

As evidenced by the phrase "the athelete's father".

Shouldn't it be "the student's father"? Nah, he's just meat for the sports-industrial complex

Troy Morris

Sports matter. That's why H.S. coaches make six figures.

downwithpants

Unbelievable.

Maybe instead of doing this like they have done it, how about suspend him from the basketball team, let him finish out the term and take his finals so he hasn't wasted most of a school year, and then kick him out.

Seems like the district is taking a very heavy handed approach to this problem. They aren't exactly putting the student first, are they?