It’s not often that you hear about a basketball coach making headlines for impersonating one of her players, but that’s exactly what happened recently in Virginia.
The 22-year-old assistant girls’ basketball coach, Arlisha Boykins, has been accused of pretending to be a 13-year-old player on the Churchland High School’s junior varsity (JV) team.
In video footage, fans were left in shock as they watched Boykins dribbling down the court, shooting hoops, and acting like a teenage basketball prodigy. What could have possibly motivated this coach to pull off such a hilarious and ridiculous stunt? Some say it was a last-ditch effort to win the game, while others speculate it was a cry for attention.
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The coach’s bizarre behavior has caused quite a stir on social media.
She at practice like pic.twitter.com/CqQhkV8IMf
— TheHomieJoker? (@TheHomieJoker) February 1, 2023
I need to see Arlisha Boykins Stat line from that churchland girls JV game ?????
— NewSki❗️♐️ (@newguppp) January 31, 2023
This is wild as hell!
She was really out here balling up some 14 and 15 year olds. ??
Arlisha Boykins a 22-year-old assistant for the Churchland H.S. Truckers in Virginia impersonated one of her players who was away from the team during a club basketball tournament. pic.twitter.com/NgHVtqtPUN
— C-Recks (@lyric2go) February 1, 2023
Portsmouth Virginia Public Schools got a report from administrators at Nansemond River High School that a member of Churchland High School’s junior varsity coaching staff “took part in the game.”
“While I cannot discuss details of the investigation since this is a personnel matter, I can confirm Arlisha Boykins is no longer an employee of Portsmouth Public Schools,” spokesperson Lauren Nolasco said in a statement.
Additionally, the team’s remaining games have been canceled.
So, what’s the takeaway here? Winning is important, but it’s never worth risking your reputation, career, or freedom for. So coaches, take a moment to reflect on why you got into coaching in the first place, and remember that winning isn’t everything.
