Earlier this school year, just weeks before the start of the high school basketball season, University of Washington hoops alum Brandon Roy was let go as the head coach at Garfield High School.

It was an abrupt end to a great tenure for one of UW's most notable alums. He had led Garfield to state titles in 2018, 2020 and 2023.

There were no details given at the time about what happened, but those details finally emerged in a comprehensive Monday story from the Seattle Times.

According to the Times, rival high school Auburn Mountainvew accused Roy and his staff if illegally recruiting one of their players in the spring of 2025. 

It's important to note that this began as Auburn Mountainview directly calling Garfield to report the issue in June. Tarance Hart, the athletic director at Garfield at the time, then sent an email to Seattle Public School personnel outlining the allegations.

According to Hart’s (Garfield principal) email, relaying Herren’s allegations: Sometime around Memorial Day last year, an Auburn Mountainview basketball player told his coach that he had received a phone call encouraging him to transfer to Garfield.

It was a four-way call, with Roy joining at some point, Hart wrote. The student said he was offered an apartment, a car, $2,000 and paid driver’s ed classes if he would transfer to Garfield.

-- As noted by the Times, "Garfield reported the alleged violation to the WIAA and Seattle Public Schools launched an internal investigation last June."

-- Through the course of those conversations, there were reports of another recruiting issue involving a player who transferred from Eastside Catholic to Garfield a few years prior.

-- Auburn Mountainview escalated its complaint to the WIAA itself on Sept. 10. The student-athlete in question did not give an on-the-record statement, so Auburn Mountainview reportedly thought nothing would come of this.

-- Roy instantly denied the allegations when made aware of them on Sept. 16. He gave a bigger comment, which was relayed to the WIAA, on Sept. 22.

“To Whom It May Concern,” Roy wrote. “I, Brandon Roy, affirm the following:

“I have confirmed with my coaches and staff that at no time were any conversations held with the student or family members in question. Verifying, no promises of money, housing, transportation, or any other benefits were ever made to any student-athlete or their parent/guardian to influence enrollment decisions,” Roy wrote.

“These allegations are entirely false. My staff and I unequivocally deny that any recruiting violations of this nature have occurred within my program.”

-- Roy was let go two days later, but reportedly has the freedom to re-apply for the job in the future if he wants to.

Sean Bessette, a WIAA spokesperson, said there was a reported recruiting violation, but there have been no findings by Seattle Public Schools, the Metro League or the WIAA.

“The alleged violation will be heard by the WIAA Executive Board later this month,” Bessette wrote."

A Garfield product himself, Roy spent four years with Washington from 2002-06. An All-Pac 10 selection in 2005-06, he was also the Pac-10 Player of the Year that season. The now 41-year-old was a consensus All-American too.

He started 71 of a possible 103 games in a Huskies uniform, scoring 14.3 ppg for his career. He had 20.2 ppg as a senior, shooting a league-best 50.8 percent from the floor.

As a junior, Roy's Huskies went 29-6, earning a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament. They advanced to the Sweet 16 before losing to Louisville. They earned a No. 5 seed the following year, falling again in the Sweet 16. 

Roy was the No. 6 overall pick in the 2006 NBA Draft of the Minnesota Timberwolves. He played five seasons for the Portland Trailblazers and one for the Timberwolves. a three-time All-Star, he was undone by injuries at a young age. 

He won Rookie of the Year in 2006-07 and finished ninth in the MVP voting in 2008-09. He averaged 18.8 ppg.

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