Basketball by the Book: A Riverfront Times Investigation

The Vashon High School Wolverines have won five state titles in the past eight years. But did they play by the rules?

Comments (0) By Kristen Hinman Wednesday, Nov 1 2006

Fortner offered vivid recollections of her late son when interviewed by Riverfront Times last month. But she was unclear when asked how White managed to play for Vashon while living with his family in Jennings.

At first Fortner said Malik was living in Jennings when he died. Then she said the family had moved to an address near Grand Boulevard in the city so her son could attend Vashon. Finally she said most of the family had remained in Jennings but Malik had lived with her brother near Vashon: "I'm his mama," she said. "Malik would come to me on the weekends and things."

Jennifer Silverberg

Vashon High School's new, $40 million campus opened at the start of the 2002-'03 academic year. The gym floor bears the name "Irons' Court," in honor of its longtime coach.

Jennifer Silverberg

Floyd Irons, whose 31-year reign as Vashon's head basketball coach ended abruptly this past summer, says he knows nothing about whether his former players' living arrangements violated state bylaws for athletic eligibility.

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According to district data obtained by Riverfront Times, White had filed his address as 1907 Prairie Avenue, in the 63113 zip code. The building at that address is not a residence. It's the headquarters of the St. Louis Paper & Box Company.

The company's owner, Bill Livingston Jr., says no one has ever resided there, at least not in the past 40 years.