His Decision to Transfer Became Big Deal for Poly
It’s hardly a surprise when a top basketball player transfers from a losing program to a successful one in order to gain more exposure.
What’s unusual is a top player leaving for a lesser program and accepting the challenge of trying to raise the level of play of those around him.
D.J. Gay of Sun Valley Poly has become a celebrity on campus because of the way he has transformed the Parrots into a Sunset Six League championship team.
From chants of “Go D.J.” during games to recognition walking down the school’s hallways, Gay, a 5-foot-11 junior guard, has accomplished what others thought unlikely -- make a name for himself.
As a freshman, he played on the junior varsity at Reseda Cleveland, known for its basketball success. When his father changed jobs, Gay lost his ride to Cleveland. As a sophomore, he decided to transfer to his neighborhood school, Poly, despite resistance from family and friends.
“I was hearing negative things,” he said. “I was told it was stupid for me to go to Poly, and I’ll probably end up at a junior college and have no chance to do anything.”
Others wondered how he would enjoy being one of the few African Americans at a school of mostly Latinos.
In the summer between schools, Gay was growing apprehensive.
“I questioned myself, ‘Was this a good decision?’ ” he said. “Coach [Brad] Katz asked me, ‘Did you make the right decision?’ I told him I’d let him know after the season.”
Gay led Poly to its first league championship in 19 years, was selected the Sunset Six player of the year and made the All-City team.
Last week, Poly wrapped up its second consecutive league title, with Gay providing the last-second heroics to beat Van Nuys Grant in overtime.
Grant Coach Howard Levine, who coached Gilbert Arenas of the Washington Wizards in 1999, told Gay’s father, “I think D.J. is quite possibly the best player in this league since Gilbert.”
Gay sure knows how to make Grant feel miserable. In their first league game, he made a three-point shot with 20 seconds left to break a 58-58 tie, then converted two free throws to give the Parrots a five-point victory. Last week against the Lancers, his three-pointer off a steal sent the game into overtime. He finished with 31 points in a 60-58 victory.
“My God, he’s doing it in the clutch,” Levine said.
In the first week of the season, Gay caught the attention of college scouts when he scored 31 points against Compton Dominguez and 48 points against Carson. He’s averaging 22.6 points and could be the best player at Poly since 1977, when center Bill Mathis led the Parrots to the City 3-A final.
Gay knew many of the Poly players before he arrived, having played against or with them at a local park. And he has fit in perfectly, even changing his hair to a Mohawk this year when others decided to join in.
“I don’t see color on the court,” he said. “I see teammates.”
He has the ability to make three-point shots even with a defender in his face.
He’s strong academically, holding down a 3.7 grade-point average, and has come to appreciate a program at Poly that allows students to finish most of their requirements before their senior year.
Most of all, Gay is glad he accepted the challenge of trying to build up a school that’s just a short walk from where he lives in Panorama City.
“It’s kind of like giving back to the community in a way,” he said. “When I was [playing] at the park, I was looked up to, and now they come and watch me play.”
Despite another year of high school to go, Gay long ago told Katz the answer to his question, “Did you make the right decision?”
“It was the best decision I made in my life,” Gay said.
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The rule-breakers are starting to get caught and punished severely.
Last week in Northern California, Redwood City Sequoia fired its basketball coach, forfeited its victories over the last two seasons and canceled the rest of its season after discovering that two players lived outside the school’s attendance area.
Last month, the Central Coast Section banned the entire Salinas High athletic program from postseason play for 2006 because students were found to be playing with fake addresses, among other violations.
The punishment is harsh but appropriate. Let’s hope the long overdue crackdown on individuals and schools evading eligibility rules makes its way across the state as well as the nation.
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The City Section has spent the past two weeks investigating the eligibility of five out-of-state transfer students and one in-state transfer student who have played this season for the Los Angeles Fremont boys’ basketball team, City administrator Jeff Halpern confirmed Friday.
Officials at Fremont, which is 21-3 and won the Coliseum League championship, insist the players are eligible. As of Friday afternoon, Halpern said it remained “an ongoing investigation.”
Because the investigation began before the City playoff seeding meeting, which is scheduled for today, Fremont could be removed from the playoffs at a later date if it is determined any player is ineligible.
“We’ve cooperated fully,” Fremont Coach Sam Sullivan said.
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Eric Sondheimer can be reached at eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.
