Three Cardinal Ritter B-Ball Stars Face Controversial Suspension
Trey Ostrom 
It seems as if Indianapolis High School Basketball has been engulfed in a multitude of controversies over the past week. Unfortunately, it looks as if outrage from players, fans, and teams alike will not end soon. The latest entry to this tide comes to Indianapolis Cardinal Ritter in which a tragic series of events led to the suspension of three Cardinal Ritter stars. The suspension, given out by the school’s athletic code, was due to a questionable decision as a result of a party on February 19th.
On Wednesday, three basketball players on the west side of Indianapolis were suspended from competing in their school’s sectional matchup against Beech Grove. With permission, their names are Jordan Turner, Yanis Nebout, and Rodney Wells. The school’s reasoning for the suspension: a party in which the three students attended withholding drugs and alcohol.
Jordan Turner and Rodney Wells took to Instagram after the decision to suspend the three friends. The post on both of their Instagrams (linked below) includes,
“All because we went to a party. We didn’t do any drugs (or) any drinking because we are both athletes with a plan to go to the next level and the inspiration to inspire all across the world. Ritter is truly trying to stop us. We have no say; we can’t fight. Please build up with us on this so we are able to fight for this. So we are able to play sectionals. Please help us with this… we are going to FIGHT, it’s not over. They gave us a DRUG TEST. WE PASSED IT 100%.
The post has received many positive responses supporting the group in their tough endeavors and offering help in any way possible. The situation has also garnered the attention of many media outlets on social media including the highly esteemed “Recruits Zone.” The account posted an image (linked below) of the three under the words “Free Them” in large red font. In the caption, Recruits Zone mentions “Punishing individuals for doing the right thing is not the example to be setting.”
For three-star athlete Jordan Turner, he told us “(I) never thought I would do something like this…” in regards to the attention the situation has garnered.
Senior Rodney Wells told us “(We) are innocent. We are high school athletes and just want to play the game we love.”
In the words of Junior Yanis Nebout, “We have known each other since 6th grade and we just wanted to share this last moment.”
Unfortunately, Cardinal Ritter has stayed quiet throughout the situation. Jordan Turner claims that the school will not answer any of their questions which leaves the three students in a state of confusion. Turner also claims Cardinal Ritter does not offer any resources to exit the party once one realizes they were in the presence of drugs and alcohol.
After research and speaking with an athletic director from a neighboring school, it seems as if the three students will have a tough case to prove their innocence. The school has the right to suspend the three if within school policy. It goes to show that in the given situation, athletes and students alike MUST contact a coach and/or teammate and ask for a ride elsewhere.
We have contacted Cardinal Ritter in hopes of receiving a comment over the current code of conduct and the reasoning for a suspension. We are yet to receive a response.
