The NCAA has released a list of 15 prep/finishing/private schools from which they will not except transcripts. While the list won’t affect kids who already are playing for schools, they do affect any kids coming in for their freshman year in 2006. This is just the first round of schools. There are apparently more than 25 schools being reviewed.

So far, here is the list of scarlet letter schools:

American Academy (Miami)

Celestial Prep (Philadelphia)

Einstein Charter School (Morrisville, Pa.)

Goliath Academy (Miami Lakes, Fla.)

Hawaii Electronic School (Honolulu)

Martinez Adult Education (Martinez, Calif.)

North Atlantic Regional High (Lewiston, Me.)

Paradise Christian Academy (Paradise, Calif.)

Philadelphia Christian Academy (Philadelphia)

Ranch Academy (Canton, Texas)

Rich Township H.S. Phoenix Camp (Park Forest, Ill.)

Sagemount School (Miami)

Tazewell City Career and Tech Center (Tazewell, Va.)

University High School (Miami)

Virginia Beach Central Academy (Virginia Beach, Va.)

Stunningly neither Stoneridge Prep and Lutheran Christian Academy is not on the initial list. Three Eastern PA schools, two in Philly are on that list. Amazingly the coach of Lutheran Christian was employed previously by the two Philly schools. What a coincidence. Daryl Schofield is professing no concern even with the visit recently from the NCAA.

Schofield, who describes himself only as Lutheran’s head coach and recruiter, characterized the articles and subsequent NCAA investigation as “a public lynching.”

“It seems like it’s been a lynching of us from start to finish,” he said. “They’re not affecting me. They’re affecting the [students]. This isn’t about me. It’s about them.”

As an NCAA-accredited prep school – it is registered with the Pennsylvania Department of Education, though the department does not certify private schools – Lutheran Christian would work for a high school player who needs more time to qualify on the NCAA’s sliding scale of SAT scores and grade point average. It can do so without the restrictions of a junior college, which requires a two-year commitment.

Some Lutheran Christian students who weren’t college eligible had left their public high schools before graduating so they could increase their grade-point average in core courses.

It would appear that most on the initial list were there for not responding to NCAA requests for info. It’s very likely most will be cleared. You can consider this the warning shot across the bow for most of the schools. Warn off some kids who think they can shortcut, and let the rest of the schools who are considering slow responses that there will be a public cost.

The next round of ineligible schools will be more interesting. Not to mention piss off some of the NCAA member schools who will be in a bind that late in the season.

There is a major loophole, though, for the schools. The NCAA will declare ineligible any player who is not already enrolled at the college or university. It will not apply to those already enrolled and who have or are taking classes. That would likely mean, that if the kids who are, shall we say, “at risk” of seeing their chances flushed down the toilet for another year can get their butts to the school and start taking summer classes they should be able to play come November.