Quarles is back at Paulsboro, but . . .
Because of transfer sit-out rules, the 6-6 junior might not be able to play in his senior season.
Daryus Quarles has returned to Paulsboro, but there's no guarantee the 6-foot-6 swingman will take the basketball court again for the Red Raiders.
Quarles, a junior who has committed to attend St. Joseph's University on a basketball scholarship, said yesterday that he reenrolled in Paulsboro earlier this week after spending the first six months of the school year at Life Center Academy in Burlington.
Under NJSIAA rules, a varsity athlete who transfers from one secondary school to another without a change of residence must sit out a full year. That means Quarles could be forced to sit out his senior season.
Daryus Quarles declined to comment further, referring questions to his father, Albert.
"If he has to sit, he has to sit," Albert Quarles said. "I hope the state doesn't rule it that way."
Albert Quarles said he hopes the NJSIAA will rule his son eligible to play next season because he changed residences in conjunction with his transfers.
Albert Quarles said his son moved in with him in Clayton when he enrolled in Life Center last summer. Albert Quarles said his son has moved back in with his mother in Paulsboro in order to reenroll in his old high school.
While not commenting specifically about the Quarles case, NJSIAA assistant director Bob Baly said the organization's eligibility appeals committee often has not regarded moves back to the "original parent" as a bona fide change of residence.
"What we try to avoid is an athlete living with one parent and playing for one school and then living with another parent and playing for another school," Baly said.
Baly also said the organization has a "high standard" for awarding a hardship waiver for student-athletes who transfer because of financial reasons.
Albert Quarles said his son transferred back to Paulsboro for "personal and financial" reasons.
Daryus Quarles played for Paulsboro as a freshman and sophomore. He averaged 17.2 points as a sophomore and helped the Red Raiders to the South Jersey Group 1 championship game.
At the Prime Time Shootout in Trenton in February, Daryus Quarles said, "I miss Paulsboro," but indicated that he felt his career had been advanced because of the high level of competition at Life Center.
Life Center is a private, non-NJSIAA school that plays a national-caliber basketball schedule.
"It was a great experience for him," Albert Quarles said. "He definitely gained from it. But he really missed Paulsboro."
Wilson Arroyo, the coach at Life Center, said that Quarles could not overcome his homesickness. "He really wanted to go back to Paulsboro," Arroyo said.
Arroyo said Quarles averaged 15 points, 71/2 rebounds and four blocked shots for Life Center this season.
As far as the possibility that Daryus Quarles could sit out his senior season, Albert Quarles said, "He's going to St. Joe's anyway. If he has to sit, it could be a blessing. He could work out, improve his grades and not worry about twisting an ankle or something like that."