Dear Baltimore City and Maryland Secondary Schools: It is with the upmost agony and frustration that I compose this Petition as testimony to the recent disregard of my son’s hard work, dedication, and commitment to the game of basketball. During the course of this summer, my son Aquille Carr has worked tirelessly on raising his stock as one of the premiere young basketball players in the World. He has been diligently gaining worldwide recognition do to long hours in the gym, numerous individual workouts, and extensive physical conditioning sessions. Aquille has poured his heart and soul into his craft only to have one if not the biggest opportunity of his young career stripped away from him. My son has been granted a golden opportunity to play in the 2011 Boost Mobile Elite 24 in Venice, CA. However, Baltimore City Schools along with Maryland State Secondary Schools are in an attempt to deprive my son his right to compete in the biggest elite game of the summer without any appropriate justification. The Boost Mobile Elite 24 game is no stranger to Baltimore kids; in 2009 this very same game featured both Rosoce Smith (UCONN) and Will Barton (Memphis) who were both transferring from Maryland Secondary schools at the time. The game also headlined Josh Selby who at the time was a rising senior at Lake Clifton High School which falls under the very same guidelines and procedures as Patterson High School where my son attends. When the question was proposed to, Baltimore City coordinator of Athletics, Bob Wade and his fellow colleagues they neglected to generate a legitimate or concrete reason as to why Aquille should be withheld from competition. As a parent I it exasperates my soul to have to witness my child, who has exerted himself in all areas for these particular moments, go through such heartache and dejection. I am writing to ask you to raise this matter in Baltimore City and Maryland Secondary Schools to: Allow our family along with the faithful basketball community of Baltimore City to share this opportunity for years to come. Provide Baltimore City with the chance to be recognized for more than violence and Drugs (Game will be feat. On ESPN U 7pm Saturday 27 August 2011) Give My son the opportunity to capitalize on his hard work Show the youth of Baltimore that dreams are obtainable if you persistently put in the work and always be willing to take a firm stance in their beliefs. Thank you for your attention, I look forward to hearing from you. Alan Carr

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