Boys Denied Waiver to Play at Simi Valley

Controversial transfer Ian Boys has been denied a hardship waiver to play basketball for Simi Valley High, Southern Section Commissioner Dean Crowley said Thursday.

Crowley declined to give a reason for his decision, which concluded a 3 1/2-week investigation into Boys’ transfer from Buena to Simi Valley this fall.

Bobby Fullove, Boys’ legal guardian and the father of a Simi Valley player, said he will appeal the decision before a three-person executive committee during an open hearing Nov. 5 at the Southern Section office in Cerritos.

“After reviewing [the Southern Section’s] findings, I’m greatly encouraged to appeal,” Fullove said. He declined to give more details.

Boys, a 6-foot-7 senior who was Buena’s leading scorer and rebounder last season, is the latest in a line of talented players who have transferred to Simi Valley in recent years.

Boys’ parents say Ian’s transfer is the result of a financial hardship within the family. But some rival coaches believe rules pertaining to undue influence were violated in a calculated effort to boost an already strong Simi Valley team into a championship contender.

“I think it was the right thing,” Buena Coach Glen Hannah said of the Southern Section’s decision. “I really feel sorry for Ian because he is a good kid. But I know this was something that was explained to Mr. Boys that could happen.”

Eric Boys, Ian’s father, said he welcomes the opportunity to tell his family’s side of the story before the executive committee.

If the appeal is denied, a request could be made to have the case reviewed by Jack Hayes, executive director of the California Interscholastic Federation.

Fullove said Ian has “several options” if the appeal is turned down but gave no details.

Crowley said Boys could return to his former school because he still has athletic eligibility at Buena.

Hannah, however, said he would not allow Boys to return to Buena’s team as long as he is the coach. Basketball practice begins Nov. 15.

Asked if returning to Buena is an option for Ian, Eric Boys said, “As far as I’m concerned, that’s probably pure conjecture.”

In the past three years, Simi Valley has benefited from an influx of high-profile basketball players.

In 1995, Pero Vasiljevic, a 6-9 exchange student from Australia, stayed with the family of a Simi Valley player and played his senior season for the Pioneers, earning The Times’ Ventura County player of the year award.

Last year, Simi Valley’s fortunes were boosted by the arrival of Rafael Berumen, a 6-8 sophomore from Pomona, and Branduinn Fullove, a 6-4 freshman from Canoga Park. Berumen’s family moved to Simi Valley and Fullove was able to play for the Pioneers by enrolling at Santa Susana, the district’s magnet school. The Fulloves now reside in Simi Valley and Branduinn attends Simi Valley High.

Berumen, The Times’ Ventura County player of the year last season, Fullove, Boys and Brett Michel, another Simi Valley player, periodically played together on youth all-star teams organized by Bobby Fullove and Jim Michel, Brett’s father.