Guerdwich Montimere, 22, Nabbed For Posing As High Schooler

Guerdwich Montimere clearly subscribes to the notion that high school represents “the best days of our lives”. Since his 2007 graduation from Fort Lauderdale, Florida’s Dillard High School, the 22-year-old may have missed the highs of sports glory. Montimere was a top-flight basketball player there, so much so that he helped them to reach the state semis. He did try to make it in junior college, but couldn’t stick within the lineup; possibly he needed an installment loan to pay for tuition but couldn’t qualify. Montimere, an American citizen from Haiti, decided that enough was enough in 2009: he had to find some 15-year-olds to dominate on the court. So he made what he felt was a logical choice: He posed as a 15-year-old and enrolled at Permian High School in Odessa, Texas. As the Odessa American! reports, Guerdwich Montimere (aka Jerry Joseph) has been arrested for his little game.

A false ID charge suited Guerdwich Montimere

Guerdwich Montimere's fake documents proved to be enough to fool head basketball coach Danny Wright, with whom he lived after enrolling at Permian. Wright considered him “a family member” and was devastated by news of Montimere/Joseph’s deception. ”The whole school of Permian embraced that kid. He deceived us and played on everybody involved’s emotions, "said the distraught coach to the newspaper.

School athletic director Leon Fuller was absolutely flabbergasted: “I feel like I was hit by a ton of bricks. In my 50 years in education, I’ve never heard of anything like this”.

The Florida connection

Reports indicate that Permian High School received a hot tip from unnamed sources in Florida. Might that have been a friend of family member of Montimere’s? Whatever the case, that tip is what led immigration to Jerry Joseph’s door. Subsequent investigation put an end to Guerdwich Montimere's irresponsible scheme.

At least they have football

The school that inspired the wildly popular “Friday Night Lights” in print and on television will always have their football glory to keep them warm. The Permian Panthers will look in shame upon Guerdwich Montimere's season with the team, as the rules require the team’s achievements be nullified for using the ineligible player – even though Permian had no idea.

Sources

USA Today

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2010/05/22-year-old-texas-high-school-basketball-star-arrested-for-posing-as-16-year-old-/1