By Brian Hedger and Mike Helfgot
Curie boys basketball coach Michael Oliver tried to take the news in stride, but having varsity players transfer midseason for the second year in a row stung.
Oliver said he saw the transfers of starters Asante Smiter and Andre Arrington to No. 2 Foreman coming based on the pair's actions and summer AAU affiliation with Foreman coach Terrence Head.
"All it is, is copy-catting," Oliver said following Wednesday's 63-50 home victory against Urban Prep in the city playoffs. "The Board allowed Wayne (Blackshear) to do it last year, so why shouldn't they let these guys do it? That's how they're looking at it.
"By him getting away with it last year and playing this year, then everybody else thinks they can do it too."
Oliver accused Head of recruiting Smiter and Arrington.
"We knew he was recruiting them all season long," Oliver said. "They played with his AAU teams, and all year they acted like, 'We've got another option than what we've got here. Those two particular kids battled against everything we did all year."
Head would not comment on the matter, but three sources with the knowledge of the situation said both Smiter and Arrington moved from the South Side to the North Side.
Calvin Davis, the Chicago Public Schools' director of sports administration, said neither Smiter nor Arrington will be eligible this season and both have to fill out an eligibility request form to be reviewed by the school board before being granted eligibility for next season, just like Blackshear, a Louisville recruit, did after he left Curie for Morgan Park.
The move left Oliver's Condors with eight varsity players with the city playoffs just starting.
Oliver also issued a warning about midseason transfers becoming more common if something isn't done to curtail them.
"Until they get a hold on this transferring thing by going back to the old rule, where if you transfer you've got to sit out a whole year, it's going to continue to be a mess," Oliver said. "Guys figure if they run and get an address in a new district, then that will make them eligible."
As for Curie's remaining players, they have rallied around Oliver and one another like they did a year ago.
"This isn't the first time we've had to deal with something like this," Curie senior Jeremy Price said. "Just because a couple guys left, that isn't going to break us up as a family. People leave. That's just life. You've got to deal with it and move on."
Register with Chicago Tribune and receive Bears, Bulls, and Blackhawks newsletters for free. 
When sports news breaks, be the first to know. (To get alerts on a mobile device, text CHISPORTS to 31286.). 
The real story... What Coach Oliver neglected to mention was that the Curie coaches show preferential treatment to those players who played AAU with a certain Chicago Bulls point guard’s brother’s team. And those players who did not play AAU with that specific team have been treated like outsiders and received less playing times and offensive plays. In addition to receiving less playing time, the players were berated by coaches for missing shots despite performing statistically better both on offensive and on defensive. Those players who did play on the preferred AAU team averaged more turnovers and a lower shooting percentage. One can only look at last year's statistics, when certain players (who did not play with the team’s aau team) were given an opportunity to succeed, and see that those players were significant contributors to the team. All of this to say... Coach Oliver should be held accountable for his unfair treatment of players, and players should not be "forced" to play on one aau team with their high school teammates. AAU gives players the opportunity to play with players across the state. Let us not punish our young men for choosing to broaden their horizons. I support anyone trying to make a positive impact on our community.
I played for Coach Oliver, he is a stand up guy, it is a shame that Coach Head is taking his players away, but most of the whole high school sports is currupted by the greed of most coaches, they make money off the tournaments, at least is what i saw while I was a player there, Kirs, i find your comment a bit amusing, coaches "verbaly abusing" players is nothing new, it happens in every sport at every level, do you realize how much adrenaline is being produced by coaches and players alike? The blame here is not on the players, I agree, it's on the coaches who promisse you something, that they cant deliver, and they will use you until you are worthless to them or another younger talented player comes along. The old rule should of stayed, I agree with Coach Oliver.
I don't blame those guys for leaving. I've attended several Curie games and witnessed outrageous verbal abuse coming from one of the coaches. That kind of coaching isn't effective, and I wouldn't be surprised if more of the players transferred.