After all the controversy, after all the time, money, lies and back-and-forth quotes, Landon Powell is heading back to high school.

The nation's most notable scholastic baseball player, who was the first-ever high school junior to earn Major League Baseball free agency after he slipped through the Amateur Draft this past June, started classes at Apex High in North Carolina today, according to a report published by Baseball America this afternoon.

"It's time to move on," Ron Powell, Landon's father, told Baseball America. "I think we've been fair. The 28th (of August) was the date we set as a deadline, and we have never received a written contract."

Landon, 18, will finish out his required curriculum at Apex to graduate with his senior classmates in the spring. At that time, he'll again be eligible for the MLB Draft. He has also verbally committed to attend the University of South Carolina on a full scholarship.

Powell took the G.E.D. test last spring after his adviser, pro sports agent Scott Boras, learned of a obscure MLB draft rule in which high school juniors could become eligible for selection. The twist to the tale was that Boras and the Powell family told only Major League Baseball's Commissioner's Office. They kept the news for all 30 major league teams so that the 6-foot-4, 205-pound catcher would go unselected and gain free agency, enabling him to negotiate with all 30 teams rather than just the one that drafted him.

However, that plan seemed to backfire, as pro teams were simply uninterested in paying Powell the kind of money he sought.

"Several clubs wanted an idea on what we were looking for," Ron Powell told Baseball America. "We told them we thought he was the equivalent of a high first-round pick and a free agent, and should base their offer on that criteria. But baseball did not show the willingness to make a commitment to him."

Landon, who was purposely held back a year in the seventh grade, by his father, so he would have a size and strength advantage over other high school baseball players come his senior year, led Apex to the North Carolina 4A state title last spring. Prior to last season, Baseball America rated the teen as the No. 2 prospect in the Class of 2001.