The Dallas ISD will seek an outside firm to review its academic and athletic procedures in the aftermath of South Oak Cliff's forfeiture of its 2006 state basketball championship, superintendent Dr. Michael Hinojosa said.

"Maintaining the integrity of the educational process is paramount," Hinojosa said at a morning news conference Wednesday. "Maintaining the integrity of the Dallas ISD athletic program is essential."

An internal investigation determined that a South Oak Cliff administrator had arranged for the failing grade of a basketball player to be changed to a passing one before the regional tournament in February 2006, the school district said in a news release.

The player was academically ineligible but competed in the regional and state tournaments.

FILE 2006

South Oak Cliff players Marquis Jefflo (left) and Kendrake Johnigan run to the lockerroom as they celebrate their win over Fort Worth Dunbar in the UIL Boys 4-A Championship.

Hinojosa said the grade-changing occurred on campus, but that no one currently employed at the school was involved, including head coach James Mays II.

Hinojosa would not reveal the names of anyone under investigation.

The investigation was instigated in response to a series of WFAA-TV (Channel 8) reports, which began in November.

Hinojosa confirmed the district's Office of Professional Responsibility revealed that a former SOC player – identified by WFAA as Kendrake Johnigan – was academically ineligible for the regional and state tournaments.

Johnigan scored 11 points in the championship game as SOC defended its 2004-05 Class 4A state title with a 76-58 victory over Fort Worth Dunbar on March 11, 2006.

WFAA reported in November that Johnigan's grade of 50 in an English class was changed to 73 before the Class 4A Region II tournament in 2006. WFAA also reported that former SOC English teacher John Yourse was forced by former principal Donald Moten to give Johnigan a passing grade.

Yourse and Moten are no longer at SOC. Johnigan is listed as a freshman on the Eastfield College men's basketball team.

None of the three individuals could be reached for comment Wednesday.

Mays, who did not attend the morning news conference, declined comment Wednesday when approached at the school. He did not allow media to attend the afternoon practice. Mays previously denied any wrongdoing and welcomed an investigation following the initial WFAA report.

None of SOC's players were available for comment. Seniors J'mison Morgan, Brandon Jones and Israel Milburn were sophomores on the varsity in 2006.

Hinojosa said the DISD has been in contact with the University Interscholastic League to report the offense.

UIL spokesperson Kim Rogers issued a news release noting that state law requires forfeiture of a game in which an ineligible player participates. Rogers said appropriate action will take place once the UIL receives something in writing from SOC.

"Historically, the last team defeated by the team that forfeited replaces that team," Rogers said. "The records will reflect that."

Robert Hughes Jr., coach of Fort Worth Dunbar, the runner-up to SOC in the 2006 Class 4A state finals, said Wednesday afternoon he had not been contacted by anyone from SOC or DISD.

"I've been so focused on trying to get a playoff spot this year, it really hasn't hit me yet," Hughes said. "I'm just waiting for them to contact me before I make any comment."

SOC principal Regina Jones, who was hired before the start of the 2006-07 school year, called the situation "painful" for the school.

"Our focus at South Oak Cliff is excellence. We strive to provide opportunities academically and athletically for every student," Jones said. "We're going to learn from this experience, and we will move forward academically and athletically."

Former head football coach J.B. Wallace, who coached at SOC for 11 years, said he was saddened by the news. He said the basketball program has lived up to higher expectations under Mays.

"Athletically, you have to maintain a 70 average, but [Mays'] basketball players had to maintain a 78 average," Wallace said. "If they didn't do it, they'd be punished by sitting out or something like that.

"To him, the program was bigger than one kid, and that includes Darrell Arthur, Kevin Rogers, players like that. He preached integrity."

Staff writers Matt Wixon and Bobbi Roquemore contributed to this report.