Fernley High School Recruit Made Up Story / Sports section front

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Fernley High School Recruit Made Up Story

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Posted: 1:54 PM Feb 6, 2008
Last Updated: 4:42 AM Feb 7, 2008
Reporter: Daniel Chanin
Email Address: daniel.chanin@kolotv.com

20 comments

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FERNLEY- Five days after formally announcing his decision to play football for the University of California, Fernley Senior Kevin Hart released a statement saying he made the whole thing up.

On Wednesday, Hart issued the following statement through the Lyon County School District.

"I wanted to play D-1 ball more than anything. When I realized that wasn't going to happen, I made up what i wanted to be reality.

I am sorry for disappointing and embarrassing my family, coaches, Fernley High School, the involved universities and reporters covering the story."

On Friday, hundreds of students filled the school's gym to celebrate what they thought was the first Division I football scholarship in school history.

Athletic Officials from Cal, Oregon and other schools said to be interested in Hart immediately denied offering a scholarship. That prompted Hart to file a police report saying he had been duped by a faux recruiter named "Kevin Riley."

The lead investigator in this case tells Kolo-8 he thought it was "a little odd" that Hart said he got rid of the alleged recruiters' contact information and all receipts indicating payment.

Fernley High School was pretty much on lock down, Wednesday afternoon.

Two members of the administration prevented the media from entering the campus and several students say they were specifically told not to talk to the media.

Senior Ashley Danks says students gave Hart a mixed reception when he arrived on campus, Wednesday morning.

"I saw him pull into the parking lot and I guess he was late," says Danks. "And someone said look it's Kevin and half the class laughed and the other half just stayed quiet."

The Lyon County's sheriff's office will meet with Hart to get a more in-depth story about what happened. Then they'll pass on their findings to the District Attorney.

Hart could be charged with falsifying a police report, which carries a maximum fine of $1,000 or six months in jail.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: coach maxwell Location: Nash,Tenn on Feb 9, 2008 at 04:53 AM
We coaches,parents,and peers need to stop setting the bar so high that we can't settle for nothing less.He must live with that mistake,We have put high powered sports over high powered education.For those of you who ready to put a foot to him when he's down,Whered you coach?whered you play?Did you make all state. this child only wanted not to be a failure in a world that he new would only kick him if he came short. He proved one thing to be true,we did.

Posted by: Rachel Location: Oakland on Feb 8, 2008 at 09:26 PM
Good story about a situation in which there were no winners.

Posted by: Anonymous Location: Fernley on Feb 8, 2008 at 08:53 PM
I think he needs to be held accountable for his action's. He has brought another embarrassment to this community in which we could have done without. I recall kid's surrounding Kevin like he was a superstar. How proud they were and how they looked up to him. It is just a shame it was all a lie!! How many student out there that must feel betrayed and embarrassed. Going to be a while before this whole thing blows over.

Posted by: lisa Location: reno on Feb 8, 2008 at 07:02 PM
As the man from PA said, how did it get this far? Did anyone see any letters from the schools? I think we need to leave him alone and maybe get him some mental health help.

Posted by: Anonymous Location: reno on Feb 8, 2008 at 11:49 AM
sparks high should be ashamed of them selves because of what they were saying at the game

Posted by: Larry Location: Pittsburgh PA on Feb 8, 2008 at 10:50 AM
I coach high school football here in the Pittsburgh, PA area and I am very confused, we receive letters and phone calls from school that want to take a look at our players and they request film, stats GPA and a lot of others information on them. This includes blue chips players who attend the big Nike/Reebok camps during the summer at major university. So how could the coach and or Athletic Director go along with this? School such as Cal and Oregon want everything there is on a player before they invest a scholarship in any player. No way would they offer a full ride without speaking with his head coach. I could go on but that is enough I won’t go into the official visits to the school and the phone calls they make to your home I’ll just stop there and need someone to explain to me how so many adults dropped the ball and did not ask more question or make some phone calls before it got this far.

Posted by: Anonymous Location: Fernely on Feb 7, 2008 at 05:07 PM
Has any one thought about how much pressure Kevin Hart was under to be successful. Family, school, peirs, Etc. I think what he did was very wrong because not only has it effected him, the school, his family, the communtiy, the effects of this may hurt other kids in Fernley High getting looks from collages. I hope that it doesnt happen. I was at the boys basketball game last night at Sparks High and it was not fun sitting there watching the Sparks kids make fun of Fernley High School when the boys varsity basketball team was trying to Play a Game. Where was the Sparks High Principal to take care of his out of control mean students? Hey, the kid made a mistake, he will pay for that mistake for awhile. dont punish other athletes for his actions. Be respectful of others, and have forgiveness.It could have been alot worse!!

Posted by: sasha Location: reno on Feb 7, 2008 at 04:10 PM
Hey (Anonymous) a degree is a degree, it really doesn't matter WHERE you earned it!!! Just shows your intelligence level, or lack of is a better term!

Posted by: Matt W. Location: Reno on Feb 7, 2008 at 12:37 PM
TO- Anonymous Location: Fernley. Being a "NICE" person never got anyone into a D-1 school. He needs to be good enough. He's not. 2nd team All-State in 3A is like getting an "Attendance Award" for being 300 pound.

Posted by: Cheryl Location: Yerington on Feb 7, 2008 at 09:55 AM
Just think...for a moment...that this story will make 1 of the top 10 Stories for 2008. I hope they charge him and he gets a huge fine and MAKE him do community service. I would love to see him picking up trash. Perhaps this situation will make him a better person, then again, so young and so dumb, still much to learn. And God Dang it...here I was all proud that someone from Fernley was gonna be something...had me all choked up and braggin' about it in RENNNNNNOOOOO!!!!! (Dang it!!!))

Posted by: Cynthia Location: Reno on Feb 7, 2008 at 09:53 AM
O for cryin out loud, let the kid alone. His family and peers will handle it. He already carries enough shame. Leave the kid alone.

Posted by: Anonymous on Feb 7, 2008 at 09:21 AM
I say the LCSO should press charges against him, filing a false police report is against the LAW. Why should he be treated so differently???? And the funniest part is he chose CAL over Oregon...N E WAYZZZZ!!!! I was also reading the 'Quotes of Kevin' they are so funny to read now, especially the part about 'the ones who finish highschool, get drunk and go to UNR' Too Funny. Well, at least we will be attending UNR, too bad he won't be AT any College or even TMCC. But, wait maybe he could attend TMCC and get a degree in ummm...let's say...ummm...USED CAR SALESMAN??? (LOL!) Unbelievable that a 'white kid' would LIE...Amazing!!! Dang and we attend the same school it's just too funny to watch his friends console him...Unbelievable!!! If it were to happen to one of us of color - we would be laughed out of school, unbelievable.

Posted by: Bobbie Location: Reno on Feb 7, 2008 at 09:01 AM
It wasn't right for Hart to do what he did. Maybe he wanted it so bad that he thought this might get him in. I think the media is making to much of this, let the boy be and concentrate on more important issues.

Posted by: Scott Location: Reno on Feb 7, 2008 at 08:06 AM
The kid lied. Lets start holding people responsible for their actions. I hope they nail him for wasting everyones time and money.

Posted by: Anonymous on Feb 7, 2008 at 07:37 AM
Good Job Kevin, you pulled off the senior prank of the century! I do not know one person in High School that hasn't told a lie or two in his time. It looks as if your fellow students will not hold this against you. Just tell them it was a SR. prank, that is what you are suppose to do to your school before you leave. You made front page news!

Posted by: jay Location: reno on Feb 7, 2008 at 06:17 AM
So the kid lied, the local and state government does it all the time, what kind of investigation does there need to be? Just another excuse to waste the tax payers money... I pay my taxes to help further the economy not to pay for some stupid investigation. Let the parents take care of it, since it is there job to instill morals and the knowledge of right and wrong.

Posted by: Rick Location: Reno on Feb 7, 2008 at 04:29 AM
What is more disturbing than Mr. Hart's ruse is the behavior of the 2 school administrator's (if true) who restricted access by the media while telling the students they could not say anything. If true it seems Lyon county needs to find 2 new administrators. It is still America.

Posted by: kelly Location: reno on Feb 6, 2008 at 11:48 PM
What I can't believe is that this kid actually pulled off the assembly and the whole 9 yards....why didn't any school officials look into this before the assembly and the celebration? I feel bad for this kid, I mean really he must want to play college ball really bad. I can't believe he pulled a stunt like this, but hey I'd forgive him. People out there do much worse things everyday.

Posted by: Anonymous Location: Fernley on Feb 6, 2008 at 10:44 PM
I go to school with Kevin every day, and if you ask me i think if any one deserves a d-1 in Football it would be him. He is one of the nicest ppl you would ever meet, and has so much to offer. So when ppl were talking saying he lied about his recruitment i said yeah sure why would he do that! So for ppl who think he is stupid for what he did, well get to know him first, and see how fast you change your answer.

Posted by: Mitch Goldfin Location: Reno on Feb 6, 2008 at 07:40 PM
Dear KOLO, I think we can all agree that everyone has done and/or said things that we wished we hadn't, in fact maybe some stuff that was down right foolish. I think young Kevin has made such a mistake. I'm sure if he could erase what he said he would. At least he owned up to it. Charges and fines seem a little harsh for a prank, if you will, that didn't really cause any damage or hurt on anyone but himself. I think the embarrassment he has suffered is punishment enough. If the powers that be think that Kevin should be punished for his mistake , then please don't give him a permanent criminal record. Make him do some kind of community service and call it good, and let's hope that this won't affect his chances of fulfilling his dream. Sincerely, Mitch Goldfin

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