Grand Rapids basketball star Xavier Tillman's school transfer subject of court dispute

GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- A standout Forest Hills Central High School basketball player's intention to transfer to a different high school hinges on an ongoing court battle between his parents.

Xavier Tillman, a highly rated Division I college prospect, on Monday told MLive he would be transferring to Grand Rapids Christian High School this fall.

Court documents, however, indicate the switch is dependent on a Kent County Family Court ruling expected later this summer. Tillman's mother wants him to stay in the Forest Hills system while his father supports a transfer.

The couple, divorced in late 2010, share physical and legal custody of Xavier and a younger daughter.

Xavier Tillman, who is 6-foot-8 and weighs 240 pounds, is rated as the No. 2 prospect in Michigan for the 2017 class, according to recruiting services. He is ranked 42nd in ESPN's Top 60 players in the nation and that status has landed him unofficial visits to college powerhouses, including Kentucky, Duke, Michigan State and Ohio State. He has offers from Michigan State, Purdue, Xavier University and DePaul.

Tillman averaged 15.5 points and 9.7 rebounds as a sophomore. He received Michigan Associated Press all-state special mention recognition and was named to the MLive Grand Rapids Press Dream Team.

In letters contained in the court file, Xavier Tillman indicated he would like to switch schools if he can maintain his Michigan High School Athletic Association eligibility.

In the court filings, an attorney for Tillman's father said the teen has concerns about diversity at Forest Hills Central and feels like he is an "outsider.”

But his mother, Tanya Powell-May, contends her son is being unduly swayed by his father and he is the one with concerns about diversity.

A July 15 evidentiary hearing is scheduled in the case and testimony from Xavier Tillman is likely.

Robert Sayfie, an attorney representing Powell-May, said the mother disputes claims that Xavier doesn’t “fit in” at Forest Hills Central and said he has many friends.

“The assertion is that Xavier has no problems with where he is at, and that the father (Roosevelt Tillman) has problems with some people there and doesn’t like it,” Sayfie said.

Roosevelt Tillman insists he’s not pushing any ideas on his son about transferring.

“He wants to go to Grand Rapids Christian,” he said.

Roosevelt Tillman said neither he nor Xavier mentioned the court issue in the earlier MLive interview because they don't believe it's a significant hurdle.

“In his mind, he’s left the school,” Roosevelt Tillman said. “It’s just a formality.”

Roosevelt Tillman provided MLive with a copy of an Educational Transfer Form signed by principals at Grand Rapids Christian High School and Forest Hills Central High School.

However, Grand Rapids Christian Schools Superintendent Tom DeJonge said Xavier Tillman is not officially enrolled yet and the court case will determine the outcome.

DeJonge said school leaders were “extremely cautious” about how they handled Xavier Tillman's transfer request because they wanted to avoid perceptions of wrongdoing regarding MHSAA recruiting rules.

He said Tillman and his father approached the district on their own. Relatives of Tillman already attend the school, he said, and a step-brother graduated from there, he said.

DeJonge said it’s not yet clear, but Xavier Tillman may need to get an eligibility waiver from the MHSAA to be able to play prior to mid-January.

Officials with Forest Hills Schools were not immediately available for comment. A message left with Xavier’s Tillman mother also was not returned Wednesday.

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