By Joseph Staszewski
CHSAA left Rawle no choice. New York City’s best boys’ basketball player is leaving and he couldn’t be more right in doing so.
Christ the King star Rawle Alkins announced on social media last week that he will not return to Middle Village next season and will attend a prep school. It was a move he had to make with his eligibility to play a senior season in the CHSAA still up the air. He played in eight varsity games in Florida as an eighth grader and by rule the Catholic league’s Student Eligibility Committee would not meet until September to decide if he could play in Middle Village.
Alkins, who said all along he’d rather stay at CK, left before having his fate officially decided. That was only going happen if he stuck around long enough for the school year to begin. It left Alkins with no choice but to leave after helping the Royals to three straight CHSAA Class AA Intersectional titles and two state Federation crowns during his tenure. The Catholic League is known to be a strict and by the rules organization, so his chances of being allowed to play were slim.
Instead of placing his fate in the hands of others he smartly decided his own future. Why wait and have to answer questions about it from reporters and scouts all summer, risk prep school rosters filling up and complicate the transition on and off the court.
New York City must watch another of its top talented go elsewhere. It is time for the CHSAA to change the ruling date so in the future a kid can make this move with the decency of knowing if he’d even be allowed to stay.
If Alkins had stuck it out and been turned away, he’d also be hurting his academic future. Starting a new school in October would put a greater strain on the process of ensuring he completes his course work to be academically qualified to compete in college. Rulings like this should be made in May or June or early August at the latest.
“At least make the ruling so he wouldn’t be messed up academically,” Christ the King coach Joe Arbitello said. “If the kid waits until September, are you really doing the right thing academically for the kid? So they need to get out of the 1950s and realize this is 2015.”
It has caused the five boroughs to lose the CHSAA’s regular season and postseason MVP last season, while averaging 20 points per game. Alkins is also one of the top players in the country. He is being recruited by St. John’s and every other major college.
CK teammate Jared Rivers tweeted: “@Iam_RawleAlkins gonna miss u bro turn up where ever [sic] you go”
It’s a shame to see him go, not only because he was a super talent and fun to watch play, but a rare and refreshing personality. This is a good kid, with a good family who learned to flourish in the spotlight.
Instead of getting to see him upclose, NYC fans will be forced to admire from afar wherever he lands. He would much rather have played for a fourth straight CHSAA title and another Federation crown. That was never even given a chance of happening, thanks to the CHSAA’s rules.
Alkins was right to not wait for the answer. He had to go. The best player in New York City was given no choice, but to become the best player somewhere else.
