Hardship hearing set for Calvary Christian transfer

Calvary Christian senior Valentin Rogatkin, a 6-foot-6, 225 guard from Kazakhstan expected to be one of the Warriors top players, will argue his case at a hardship hearing with the Florida High School Athletic Association on Jan. 11.

In November, the FHSAA ruled Rogatkin temporarily ineligible pending an investigation by the Florida High School Athletic Association into whether he had already exhausted his eligibility.

Calvary Christian coach Dave Bintz said Rogatkin moved from Russia last January, enrolled in Tampa Baptist (now Tampa Bay Christian Academy). But after their coach left, he enrolled at Calvary this fall.

Bintz said the FHSAA told him weeks before the season started that Rogatkin was approved; but after a Times inquiry in mid November, Hester informed Bintz of some missing paperwork; Bintz said the question appears to be if Rogatkin has exhausted his eligibility (in Kazakhstan, he said, high school only goes through 11th grade).

"It's frustrating, really frustrating," Bintz said in November. "We're trying to do things the right way and follow the rules. We were told we were in compliance, and now they say we're not."

Bintz said he feels bad for Rogatkin, who grew up in a one bedroom home in Kazakhstan, supported by a mother who made just $80 a month. A missionary helped him find Tampa Baptist, and Bintz said he never met the kid until he enrolled at Calvary this fall.

--- JOE SMITH

joesmith@sptimes.com

Comments

Can you say Collins Okafor? Remember that standout basketball player at Countryside? When people recruit outside the country....they need to be especially careful of the paperwork....

[ouch]

"It's frustrating, really frustrating," Bintz said in November. "We're trying to do things the right way and follow the rules. We were told we were in compliance, and now they say we're not."

In another story there is a 5'3 kid from Ireland who gets zero notice from Bintz the saint!

I don't live in the area and I was personally involved in the Collins Okafor situation and he was not "recruited" by Countryside High School. Collins was at Montross Christian and he wanted to leave because of the academic situation at the school, so we looked around and found Countryside High School. We were told of the kind of program Coach Leath ran and how he stressed academics and so we found a home for Collins through a local church and enrolled Collins in school and not until then did Coach Leath learn anything about Collins Okafor.

I don't live in the area and I was personally involved in the Collins Okafor situation and he was not "recruited" by Countryside High School. Collins was at Montross Christian and he wanted to leave because of the academic situation at the school, so we looked around and found Countryside High School. We were told of the kind of program Coach Leath ran and how he stressed academics and so we found a home for Collins through a local church and enrolled Collins in school and not until then did Coach Leath learn anything about Collins Okafor.

I don't live in the area and I was personally involved in the Collins Okafor situation and he was not "recruited" by Countryside High School. Collins was at Montross Christian and he wanted to leave because of the academic situation at the school, so we looked around and found Countryside High School. We were told of the kind of program Coach Leath ran and how he stressed academics and so we found a home for Collins through a local church and enrolled Collins in school and not until then did Coach Leath learn anything about Collins Okafor.

The kid can still finish high school and play AAU. If he is a good as they say he will play somewhere on a scholarship next year. Unless of course the great christians ant Calvalry kic him out once he cant play.

And yet...after Collins was declared ineligible for his senior year....Leath was removed from the basketball program. No fault of Collins, I think people got caught up in 'helping' someone who just happened to be an outstanding national team basketball player.....we ALL knew he was recruited by Leath and his crony. But if they would have done the paperwork properly perhaps COllins would be at a better school now instead of being pressured to go to Marshall and then Stetson.

[M]

First of all, ignorant and misinformed people have no right to comment on this article. Calvary WILL NOT kick out Val, if he is ruled ineligible, so I suggest that you cut off the source of this false information. If Val leaves it will be by his decision. Secondly, do you really think that it is that easy to get a full-ride athletic scholarship? If so, please go back and research... in order to be recruited you have to play a significant amount of games in order to be recognized. Colleges don't just see a minute and say, "WOW, pay for all of it." His only chance at college is through a full athletic scholarship. You can't get those from being seen only through AAU. For your information and records, Val has no money to pay for an education, none. So this hearing, on January 11, it means everything to him, you would know this if you knew him. For those of you who wish him to be ruled ineligible, I am upset to say that you are a disgrace to the human race, for you prove that not all humans have hearts, only black holes.

First of all 4:45pm Coach Leath was not "removed" from Countryside. His wife actually was offered a great job in Alabama. So, not until after he resigned the allegations occurred. So you should get your facts straight! Also, he was not recruited, Coach Leath did not know Collins until just showed up to conditioning. You must be a Jack Coit fan because Jack wanted to get Coach Leath because he couldn't beat him on the court. Coach Leath owned Jack and Clearwater when he was at Countryside. Just get factually info before you start making alligations.

Also 4:45, Collins wasn't an outstanding national team player! As a matter of fact he was only a JV player at Montross Christian! Collins is an outstanding academic student who wanted to get over here to pursue an education so when he got to Montross they had other thoughts regarding his situation. He also wasn't pressured to go to Marshall, he only transfered from Marshall because the basketball staff at the time would not let him double major so he decided to transfer. You really need to get your facts straight!

Collins was a national junior team player in his native country. He had relatives who pressured him to go to Marshall. He was and is a fine young man......and it is great that he is having college success. But if he was just some kid from another country that was oh....5'5"...I seriously doubt that he would be coming to this country and offered a scholarship. There are plenty of kids in THIS country who deserve a free education.
I have nothing against the kid from Calvary....like Collins, he appears to be caught up in something that overzealous adults caused.....the prospect of an exceptional athlete at the school, and they didn't pay attention and do the paperwork. It is always a shame when adults forget that they are kids, and the kids, and even their teammates are the ones who pay the price for what they did or didn't do.
Recruiting at Countryside or Clearwater is despicable......Leath or Coit.....

9:55 you are correct Collins did play on the junior national team, but do you know how many players there are on the junior national team. There are hundreds! He was not forced to go to Marshall from relatives. But yes, basketball did help him get over here and get an education but there is nothing wrong with that. But I can not say this enough...Collins was not recruited by Coach Leath. Again Coach Leath did not know about Collins until the first day he was enrolled at Countryside. If Coach Leath had known what was going to happen with Collins then he would not have wanted him at Countryside. He always puts his palyers first and is completely selfless when it comes to them. You can ask anyone that knows him or anyone he has coached . He always looks out for the best interests of his players first.

Leath and Thorpe were both run out of Countryside for serios recruiting scandals. And no Countryside had exactly one win versus Coit and Clearwater. The real CHS always destroyed countryside. countryside can have football but NOT hoops Get you facts straight.

[boo hoo]

Bintz stated "It's frustrating, really frustrating," Bintz said in November. "We're trying to do things the right way and follow the rules."

ITS JUST SO HARD TO NOT CHEAT AS A GOD FEARING CHRISTIAN!!

[WWJD]

There is a 5'4 very poor kid from Lebanon, can coach Bintz help him??
Oh wait 5'4 who are we kidding, WWJD??

[nah nah nah nah hey hey hey good bye cheaters]

STOP defending countryside, You Leath lover, who really cares, they had one good year never won anything big and bye bye cheaters!!
Countryside really and always will suck!!! You suck for your 4 boring blogs as well.....

You need to get your facts straight Jack won exactly one game against Countryside. Coach Leath was not run out of Countryside for recruiting! If you want to talk recruiting go talk to Jack (I won't even give him the respect to call him a coach)I know players he has personally contacted to get to play for Clearwater. SO get your facts straight!

[sportsfan]

both chs suck

[Reality]

Hate to break it to the poster above, but if you play well in AAU, it matters not what you do in high school. If you have talent, people will find you.

AAU is probably more important than High School. Better competition, more scouts at the good tournaments. Football is a very different thing.

You know they will force him out if he cant play.

No they will not force him out if he can't play... you obviously know nothing about the situation or the school. Calvary will not, WILL NOT refuse him if he is ruled ineligible, so get your facts straight.

I also know first hand that Calvary would never kick him out if he couldn't play. If he left it would be by his own choice.

Time will tell. Who will pay his tution? You say he is to poor to pay. The basketball scholarship will be pulled. If he leaves it will be his choice? What when the basketbll boosters stop paying his tutuion will he "choose" to go to the public school?

You cheated you got caught. Quit whinning. How do sports get so important at a "Christian" school.

[WWJD]

WHAT WOULD JEBUZ DO??????????

Not lie at cheat like Cavalry
"Un-Christian" school.

As a student of Calvary and a friend of Val's, I am appalled at some of the things said on this blog. I know for a fact that Calvary would never kick him out. They always find ways to keep a student there if that is the students wish, God always provides. Also, Val can only play basketball at certain schools in the Tampa Bay area (Calvary, Tampa Prep and Tampa Baptist) which does not include public schools. Of course he would choose to come to Calvary over the rest, we have the best program out of the three. He was not recruited. He didn't know anyone at the school or that it even existed. So stop the lies, or start telling and realizing the truth.