Who is Devon Hodges and What has Happened to Him???

It is not often that Valley View District produces a Division One eligible college recruit basketball player by the age of 15.  This 6’7, 220 pound lefty has played on many traveling teams, including the D-Wolves All Stars, Full Package Elite, and an international team called Team USA Elite.  At least 13 Division 1 schools had shown interest in Hodges the first time around.  He transferred from Nequa High his Freshman year to bless the Romeoville High School team with a top notch player that assisted them to success. 

Although this article reads like a softer article, typically found on the other Bolingbrook media sites, we do not intend to follow that path.  This article is about what this young man had to endure because of alleged coach greed, harassment, political connections, and failure of our school system and school board.    We wish we had an ending to this story, but this story continues… Here is this brave young man’s story…

A little over a year ago the financial crisis hit Devon’s family and they had to move.  Fortunately, the move to Bolingbrook was a blessing to the family.  Devon was in the same school district and could still see his friends.  However, the Romeoville coaches were not happy about losing this basketball star and put the pressure on the family.  The family countered the coaches, offering if they paid their past due mortgage, he could return.  Of course that would not transpire.  However, over the span of the last two years, Devon has been harassed and retaliated against by a head basketball coach, athletic director, and some district personnel.  According to his mother, she believes that they are out to destroy her son since he could not play ball for them.  Which would sound ridiculous to most people, as Devon is not responsible for paying his own mortgage and they did not offer to pay for his.

These individuals according to reports, made this mother show her financials, have attacked the kid’s character, drove past his home multiple times, and even prank called them many, many times.  Yes, these are grown individuals I am referring to.  The Superintendent had the District Investigator get involved who promised the harassment would stop.  The mom has had to involve the State Board of Education and the Police, and it still has not stopped. (The Romeoville Principal could not even return her call).  Her complaint, dated 8/10/10 to District Board President Steven Quigley has not been answered.

Devon, who was now a Bolingbrook resident, had an equally hard time entering Bolingbrook High School.  A shining star entering a Basketball team with a lead player who was politically connected, could cause some issues.  Mr. Mitchem, High School Principal and now Superintendent, has a son on the basketball team.  A few individuals in town apparently did not want him to be overshadowed by the new addition to the team when it came to recruiting scouts.  Soon enough, scout calls were never returned and when scouts came to see Devon play, the coach would bench him.  He was being mistreated by the coach and the players.  He was demoted from captain and his starting spot was taken by Mr. Mitchem’s son. 

Now, we don’t blame just the coach…  according to the Bolingbrook Patch, he was benched for disciplinary actions.  So what trouble did this poor boy get into?  Romeoville contacted the IHSA and fought the residency status of this young man, and the board cited him for not being a resident, on the sole word of his harassers and stalkers.  Mom appealed the decision and the decision was reversed, but not before he missed many games and recruiters.

 While he was fighting the residency status, they placed him back into the harasser’s hands, back at Romeoville.  A mistake they soon realized when this kid was bullied and harassed the first few weeks. His choice was drop out or get harassed by adults and students, with nobody protecting him while he was in school. After those few days, the district realized they made a mistake putting him in harms way and removed him, back to Bolingbrook.

Per the Acting Superintendent (Mitchem) they were advised to submit all documents to Mr. Hickman in regard to the harassment and retaliation. They did that in the information submitted 11/5/10. However per a 11/22/10 phone conversation with the Acting Superintendent they were advised that he had talked with Mr. Hickman and was advised that Mr. Hickman was aware of the harassment but he was unsure if it was going to be taken under consideration.

Bolingbrook rarely has anyone go to Division One schools or go “pro”.  Devon had an opportunity to make Bolingbrook proud.  His progress was hindered by greedy, self- centered individuals, that felt it was okay to crush a child, his dreams, and his future.  Had it been their child, we doubt it would have happened.  We doubt that Mr. Mitchems son did not have recruiters called back or was benched when recruiters came to see him play. 

It is a sad day when competition with kids turn into competition with the adults.  When adults act like children and the children are forced to act like the adults, we know there is a serious problem.  We are proud of Devon for keeping his head high and realizing at such a young age, how much corruption is in this world.  As a parent, you hope that your children never have to learn this lesson first hand.  In Bolingbrook, it is almost a given…

We promise to follow Devon and look forward to reporting on his progress.  We eagerly await a public apology, in writing, to this young man from the Romeoville School officials that caused this teen so much hassle, from the School District for not protecting this teen, which is their responsibility to do, and from the school board for failure to respond, allowing bullying and harassment from adults on school grounds, not interfering to assist Bolingbrook athletes in going “pro” and for failure in general to support this families grievances.  We also look forward to seeing the lawsuit documentation.

Don’t forget, vote for new school board members April 5^th and help other kids like Devon achieve their goals…