Cameroon students involved in US immigration probe

A high school basketball coach who brought four international students to Polk County was reported to the Florida High School Athletic Association on Tuesday.

The actions of Lake Wales High coach Randy Lee, who has already resigned, related to three students from Cameroon and one from Serbia were detailed in this letter to the prep sports organization.

Now, the Polk County Sheriff’s office is investigating if Lee broke any laws.

Lake Wales High fired off a letter to the athletic association admitting school leaders had heard about Lee’s plans to recruit international students, and they told him no. Leaders insist Lee did it anyway, potentially dashing four students’ dreams.

“They’re offered a high school education and opportunity of four years of college education in the land of opportunity,” says Lake Wales Charter School attorney Robin Gibson. Gibson says what Lee promised a student from Serbia and three teens from Cameroon turned out to be a lie.

School records show they were lured to an apparently fake school for athletic recruiting near Atlanta. The district says Lee then recruited the players to Lake Wales High.

“These four guys show up, and they are tall guys, so they raise some questions,” says Gibson.

The principal says Lee had pitched his program he calls “Global Prep” for more than two years, but the idea of recruiting international students was shot down by the principal, superintendent, athletic director and others.

“You don’t recruit players – that’s all there is to it,” Gibson says.

The boys are now living with a host family after a school dean discovered the coach had been housing them in a terrible situation.

“The coach made this arrangement with a 21-year-old girlfriend of an assistant coach in deplorable conditions,” says Gibson.

Lee didn’t return calls from 10 News or answer the door at his home to share his side of the story.

“We just want to comply with all the requirements and make sure these guys are cared for,” says Gibson.

The Florida High School Athletic Association tells 10 News that it’s reviewing the school’s letter to determine if the boys could be eligible to play ball. A lot of it hinges on what happens with the immigration investigation.

The athletic association could fine Lee. Click here to read more about FHSAA sanctions.