Santa Monica High Athletic Director Norm Lacy has talked to the CIF – the governing body of high school athletics in Southern California – about the circumstances surrounding the transfer of two Samohi football players to Crespi High in Encino.
Malibu High football coach Ray Humphrey, a former longtime Samohi assistant, has added information to the probe, pointing out two Malibu players have transferred to Crespi also
“I’ve written a letter which will be included with Norm’s paperwork,’’ said Humphrey. “It’s a question of whether there was undue influence.’’
Prior to the 2006 football season A.J. Woods, a star Samohi running back and safety, transferred to Crespi. He excelled and is about to begin his senior season there. Woods has made a verbal commitment to UCLA next season to play on defense.
Now, as the 2007 season begins, Samohi lineman Mike Mitchell and Malibu quarterback Dusty Kramer have transferred to Crespi too.
Humphrey said another Malibu player, a freshman, had transferred to Crespi the previous year.
Rob Wigot, a CIF administrator who’s in charge of football matters, confirmed his discussion with Lacy.
“I talked to Norm on Monday, August 13,’’ said Wigot. “I’m expecting paperwork from him because we must have written information to move forward.
“At that point Crespi will have the opportunity to respond in writing. Then there are several possibilities about what would happen.
“Representatives of the schools might meet and work things out, but if we feel the need we’d send in our investigators. We work case by case.’’
Woods and Kramer are marquee players. Samohi’s running attack suffered last season without Woods and faltered badly in mid-season when Lewis Adeyemi couldn’t play due to an injury. Adeyemi eventually came back but the Vikings didn’t qualify for the CIF playoffs.
Kramer was Malibu’s starting quarterback as a sophomore and would have been one of the team’s featured players this season. To illustrate the depth of recruiting charges in high schools, the Mirror has learned that Crespi protested to the CIF when one of its wrestlers transferred to another school.
