Player, Coach Didn't See Eye To Eye -- Templeton Bears No Ill Will After Quitting Federal Way Team

If Kyle Templeton attends the boys basketball showdown between top-ranked Decatur High School and No. 3 Federal Way on Thursday, he definitely will be cheering for Federal Way, despite his recent falling out with Coach Jerome Collins.

Templeton, considered one of the most promising sophomore basketball players in the South Puget Sound League just a year ago, quit the Federal Way team midway through a recent game and has since transferred to Jefferson.

Ironically, his last start for the Eagles was against Decatur nearly a month ago. Although he clashed with Collins, Templeton wishes only the best for his former teammates.

"If I do go (to Thursday's game), I'll root for the 10 guys on the Federal Way team," he said. "I still want them to win state and everything."

Templeton, a 6-foot-1 1/2 guard, said his relationship with Collins had deteriorated beyond repair.

"I just don't agree with a lot of the stuff he says, stuff he lives by," he said, declining to be more specific. "I just couldn't handle it any more. I had to stand up for myself."

Templeton's playing time had diminished sharply over the past year, but both he and his father, Lynn, said that was not the main factor in his decision.

"My and Collins' relationship has always been rocky," Kyle said. "I know somebody has to sit out more than others. I understood that, to a point. But then things started getting personal."

Lynn said, "It was just a real dysfunctional personal relationship on both sides. Kyle had trouble getting along with Jerome, and Jerome had trouble getting along with Kyle, for two years."

Kyle, second on the team in assists at nearly four per game, played a lot in the Decatur game, which the Eagles lost 80-75. He sat out with a sore ankle the next game, against Kentridge, although Kyle said he thought he was going to play. He played just five minutes against Auburn and seven against Kentwood, another Federal Way loss.

The final straw came in the Jefferson game Friday, Jan. 28. When Collins inserted two sophomores ahead of him two minutes before halftime, Templeton got up and walked into the locker room.

"At first, he had his chin in his hands," Lynn said. "Then he had his face in his hands. Then, very calmly, without any fanfare, he slipped off the bench and went into the locker room. I went in after him. I told him, `You need to be out on the bench with the team.' He looked at me very calmly and said, `Dad, just take me home, please. I just want to go home.' "

Lynn, branch manager of the Federal Way Boys and Girls Club and a former Federal Way city councilman, said he told Kyle if he left, there probably would not be any going back and to think about his friends and teachers.

"Kyle said, `Dad, please, just take me home. I've made my decision,' " Lynn said.

The Templetons left. Later, Kyle returned to the school with both parents and talked to Collins.

"It was futile," Lynn said.

Collins said he did not play Templeton in the Jefferson game because he left practice an hour early the day before to attend a Sonic game. Lynn Templeton said Kyle left practice only 25 minutes early and was told by Collins it would not be a problem. Collins said Kyle left practice at 5:40 p.m. and practice ended at 6:45 p.m.

"One consistent rule I've always had is if you don't practice, you don't play," Collins said.

He said Kyle was unhappy with his role on the team.

"We ask our kids to play certain roles for the benefit of the team," Collins said. "At times, Kyle wasn't willing to accept that."

Like the Templetons, Collins said there were other factors involved in the deteriorating relationship, but declined to elaborate.

"I wish him well," Collins said. "I hope he has a great high-school career."

The Templetons recently bought a home in the Jefferson service area. Templeton had planned to finish high school at Federal Way, which is allowed since he originally attended that school.

Kyle received a $400 Federal Way letterman's jacket from his parents for Christmas.

The Templetons signed an agreement to sell their present house this week and expect to move into their new home by mid-March. As soon as they do, Kyle would be eligible for a spring sport at Jefferson. He is considering baseball or track, but isn't sure he'll turn out for either.

If he does elect to turn out, his father will appeal to the West Central District board for Kyle's immediate eligibility based on hardship, meaning he could turn out when the season starts at the end of this month.

Kyle will play basketball for Jefferson next season. The Raiders are 2-8 in the SPSL North Division, 2-15 overall. Their coach, Dave Hunter, appears to have the program on the upswing in his second season. Hunter was Kyle's coach at Sacajawea in eighth and ninth grades.

"I'd rather play for TJ and not necessarily have a good record, but have a good time, than have a bummer time at Federal Way," Kyle said.

Hunter has been reluctant to comment on the situation and stressed he in no way had anything to do with Kyle's transfer.

"That was a family decision," Hunter said. "I think kids should stay where they're at."

Hunter coached at Sacajawea for 12 years and said Kyle was one of the top three players he coached there, the others being Donny Marshall and Brian Hinchy. Marshall played at Federal Way and now is at the University of Connecticut. Hinchy quit playing basketball, but is a top baseball player at Federal Way.

Templeton averaged 18 points per game as a ninth-grader and came within four points of breaking Marshall's school scoring record.

"He's a real talent," Decatur Coach Ed Boyce said. "I think he'll show that next year."

Said Hunter of Templeton: "We had a good relationship and it was fun. That should be the main thing in basketball, having fun."

And as for that Federal Way letterman's jacket?

"I'd like to keep it and make half of it red and half of it blue with TJ on one side and Federal Way on the other," Kyle said with a laugh.