Update (September 25, 2018):
Jamal Speaks has experienced a happy series of events since being kicked off of his high school football team due to being homeless, The Temple News reports.
Like many student-athletes, Speaks hoped his prowess on the field would help him earn a scholarship to college. Despite not being able to play in front of college scouts, Speaks nevertheless now has an athletic scholarship to Temple University thanks to skills he demonstrated during a Temple football training camp earlier this year.
The high schooler will also be allowed to play football this season; the athletic association overseeing high school sports in the Washington D.C. area ruled Speaks couldn't be barred from the field due to residency, WUSA reports.
In a final bit of good news, the future Temple student is no longer homeless. After seeing his story on the news, the CEO of Covenant House Greater Washington, a organization that aids homeless youth, personally helped Speaks secure housing near his high school.
Speaks said he's grateful for all the help he has received, and is looking forward to being known not for where he does or doesn't live, but for his academic and athletic talents.
“I just want to show people what I can do,” Speaks said. “Being committed to Temple, I just want to represent my future school as a commit.”
Original:
Jamal Speaks just wanted to play football and show off his skills to college recruiters but he ended up being punished for being homeless.
On Saturday, the 18-year-old star player was just about to take the field for Ballou-STAY Opportunity Academy when he was told he'd be prohibited from playing.
ABC 7 reports principal Willie Jackson threatened to fire the head football coach if Speaks stepped on the field.
"I'm being told I can't play by the principal,” the Washington D.C. resident said. “I don't know why he telling me I can't play."
The recent game would have been a big one for the high school senior. His fellow classmates delayed the game 45 minutes demanding that Speaks join them on the field. He remained bench.
A college recruiter from Temple University was waiting in the stands to see what Speaks could do on the field. Temple offered him a scholarship if he maintained a strong academic record.
According to WUSA 9 News, the reason Speaks was benched and ultimately kicked off the team was due to “lingering residency concerns.”
Speaks has been sleeping on friends' couches for most of the school year as he looks to find a more permanent home. A D.C. public schools spokesperson told WUSA 9 the principal was informed of the residency concerns but was not instructed to pull Speaks from the team.
“Someone is discriminating against him,” said family member Nia Young. “It can’t be residency because he’s been enrolled since last school year.”
Additionally, he and his godmother appealed to the State Athletic Association back in August when issues arose and he was eventually cleared to play. Ward 8 Councilmember Trayon White has now stepped in to help find Speaks permanent housing and convince the State Athletic Association he has indeed proven his residency for a year.
“This young man has been through enough,” White said. “We need to make sure he graduates and assist him in securing a college scholarship.”
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