WFAA-TV

South Oak Cliff Golden Bears players hold up their 2005-2006 basketball championship trophy.

DALLAS - James Mays II, South Oak Cliff's head basketball coach, said Dallas Independent School District officials have already cleared him of allegations that he let an ineligible athlete play on his state championship team.

Coach Mays's statement was in response to a News 8 investigation into alleged cheating by Mays and the man who was then the school's principal, Donald Moten.

The News 8 investigation raised questions about the eligibility of South Oak Cliff basketball player Kendrake Johnigan, who helped lead his team to two straight state championships.

School records, legally obtained by News 8, showed that just days before winning the 2006 state title, Johnigan was allowed to drop an English class that he was failing.

Frank Hammond, a former school counselor, said Johnigan's English teacher was forced to change that grade by Moten.

Hammond said he raised concerns as soon as he found out.

"He got a 50, and that would have made him ineligible for participation on the state championship basketball team, but that 50 was changed to a 73," Hammond said.

Hammond also said he was involved in a meeting to discuss Johnigan’s situation with Moten and Coach Mays. He said when he took his concerns to his counseling department supervisor, he quickly found himself suspended and later fired for allegedly altering another student's grades.

Hammond said it was a clear-cut case of retaliation.

Mays admitted that he signed off on the failing student's transfer, but said the issue was investigated and he was exonerated.

DISD Superintendent Michael Hinojosa said no one has been cleared of anything involving alleged grade-changing at South Oak Cliff High School.

"I'm not satisfied that the matter has been fully vetted, so obviously, we are going to reinitiate the investigation and look at the matters that have been brought to our attention," Hinojosa said.

E-mail bshipp@wfaa.com