New Palm Beach Central players prompt investigation into eligibility as 2023 season arrives

WELLINGTON — Bumps are coming early on Palm Beach Central football's road back to state before the 2023 season officially begins.

Following a 12-2 run to the Final Four of the Class 4M state championship last December, new Bronco additions to a senior-depleted roster have prompted a Palm Beach County School Board investigation at the school.The Palm Beach Post recently was told that football players expected to suit up at Palm Beach Central this season were touring surrounding campuses after "10-15 transfers" were "ruled ineligible." It was not clear if there were only football players involved or athletes from other sports as well.

On Saturday, a source with knowledge of the situation confirmed the investigation existed and was "ongoing," but was assured that the number was "definitely not 10-15" or "something the school is in trouble for or with."

The school was rocked in late July when five school officials were arrested and accused of failing to report child abuse.

The Post is awaiting a response from the Palm Beach County School District detailing the number of sports and student-athletes involved, as well as what the grounds were for the investigation and the status. Palm Beach Central plays Atlantic Thursday in the Kickoff Classic.

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History repeating in Palm Beach County

This isn't the first time questions of eligibility have been raised in Palm Beach County sports heading into a new school year. Nor is it the first time those queries have created headlines days before the inaugural kickoff.

In August 2021, Glades Central experienced a similar situation with then-quarterback Garrison Kepley was at risk of a year-long suspension after the South Carolina transfer allegedly received an "impermissible benefit." School administration forced Kepley and then-coach Rashad Jackson to sit out the Raiders' Kickoff Classic.

Because the school self-reported, Kepley received the opportunity to appeal his ruling but was denied. His family proceeded to file an injunction and Kepley ultimately returned in Week 6, missing five games his senior year.

Simultaneously at nearby Pahokee, now-Ole Miss QB Austin Simmons was at risk of losing his freshman season. Simmons was investigated throughout the summer of 2021. A June 14 letter from Palm Beach County athletic director Valerie Miyares to the FHSAA alleged that his father, David, gained playing eligibility for his son through a "blatant use of false signatures and false information on FHSAA and District documentation," including documents which verified the student's address.

Simmons was found to be in violation of Bylaw 9.1.2.2, "Falsification of Information." His punishment was a suspension from any FHSAA member school for a period of one year from the date of discovery, which effectively ruled the dual-sport star out of baseball season. The FHSAA modified its initial decision and only ruled Simmons out for five "athletic contests." Missing that fall's preseason game allowed him to debut in Week 4 of the regular season against Palm Beach Gardens.

What can players do in this situation?

Should those student-athletes deemed ineligible seek a new roster spot at another school, it won't be as easy as it was in the offseason.

The FHSAA defines "athletic activities" as all school-sponsored activities, including but not limited to, tryouts, conditioning, practices and interscholastic contests, after the official start date for that sports season. For football, fall practices officially began on July 31.

Per the FHSAA, a transfer student who has not participated in school-sponsored activities on or after the official start date of that sport season may seek to immediately join a team.

Now that the season has technically begun, a transfer student can only return to play for their previous school if the student "continues to meet FHSAA eligibility requirements" and "continues to meet the same standards of acceptance, behavior, and performance which are required of other students participating in the activity, except for enrollment requirements at the school at which the student participates." The parents of the student participating in the activity must also provide transportation for the student to and from the school, and most importantly, the student must be registered with the FHSAA Office as a non-traditional student.

If a transfer student has participated in school-sponsored activities on or after the official start date, they may only participate should they meet one of the following conditions:

• Dependent children of active duty military personnel whose move resulted from military orders.

• Children who have been relocated due to a foster care placement in a different school zone.

• Children who move due to a court-ordered change in custody due to separation or divorce, or the serious illness or death of a custodial parent.

• Authorized for good cause in district, private or charter board policy.

Offseason transfers for Palm Beach Central football

Here is a list of football players from around the area who made the move to Palm Beach Central in the offseason. It is not known if any of these players' eligibility is being questioned.

Waden Charles, WR, 2025 − Somerset-Canyons

Cameron Dwyer, LB/RB, 2026 − Palm Beach Christian Prep

Marvin Dwyer, Jr., ATH, 2024 − Palm Beach Christian Prep

Matis Gibson, QB, 2025 − Wellington

Romando Johnson, DE, 2025 − Wellington

Preston Parker, Jr., WR, 2025 − Atlantic

Sean Raymond, ATH, 2024 − Wellington

Isaias Sauceda, LB, 2024 − Royal Palm Beach

Kamare Williams, WR, 2025 − Atlantic to Chaminade-Madonna

Ze'Quan Wright, ATH, 2025 − Centennial

Emilee Smarr is the high school sports reporter for the Palm Beach Post. She can be reached via email at esmarr@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Palm Beach Central under investigation for sports transfers' eligibility