Dwayne Haskins Jr.'s father hung up on me, his NFL star mentor Mohamed Sanu had “no comment” and an official at his Maryland-based high school says he was told to direct all media inquiries to the family, “especially from reporters from New Jersey.”

Tracing the pre-teen years of NFL Draft prospect and possible Giants draft pick Dwayne Haskins in New Jersey was a strange two-month journey, but the alarm bells didn’t sound until his father returned my text message.

In 15 years reporting on New Jersey sports, including six on mainly high schools, seven on mainly Rutgers athletics and now two on the Giants, I never before experienced a level of mystery and push-back like this.

Here is the story:

Instead of talking to the usual suspects about Haskins’ rise to stardom, I wanted to know more about his often glossed-over roots. He wasn’t born a four-star recruit, Big Ten record-setter and first-round NFL Draft pick.

I knocked on doors and called trusted sources whom I have worked with many times. All had nothing but glowing praise for Haskins Jr.'s’ skill level, commitment and maturity. When I reached out to the elder Haskins — described as “an entrepreneur promoting Christian and gospel music,” in a recent ESPN story — a second time, he called back and questioned my reporting.

If the Giants pick Haskins, are they going to end up with another situation like former first-round pick Eli Apple (also from Ohio State) and his outspoken mother? Will Haskins Sr. try to influence the notoriously dogged New York market media interviewing his son after games and practices? Why the secrecy?

Here is the a transcript of our conversation. It raises more questions than answers:

Me: It’s huge news for a New Jersey native to be in the mix to be the next Giants quarterback. I found my own sources and I’m going to write a story, but I’d really like to have you or Dwayne Jr. with a voice in the story. Can you give me some time?

Haskins Sr.: I just want to be clear with you: What is the content of this article? What are you looking for? I’m familiar with aspects of reporters. I have an entertainment background. For me, I want the content to be consistent with our family core values. For me to participate in an interview, I want to make sure it’s accurate. What I came to realize throughout this process over the last 10 years, there are sources that are just not credible. They are self-serving and promoting to use Dwayne’s likeness. For me to participate, I need to know more in detail, who did you talk to? Because a two-minute or two-day encounter doesn’t define a relationship or know the core values or our faith and how we operate.

Me: I totally understand. I talked to Rick Mantz, the former South Brunswick football coach. I talked to Jake Rodriguez, the South Brunswick Pop Warner president. I talked to Tony Racioppi, a quarterback trainer in New Jersey. I talked to Mo Jabbie, who Dwayne Jr. says is his best friend. I talked to a neighbor from South Brunswick, a neighbor from Highland Park.

Haskins Sr.: Some of them are not credible.

Me: I’ve known most of those people for many years. They are credible in my eyes.

Haskins Sr.: Excuse me. I am the source. This is how the rhetoric goes down when it is actually self-serving and incorrect.

Me: This is not a negative story. This is something I’ve been working on for months.

Haskins Sr.: I understand. I’m trying to tell you as the main source that actually is involved with the participant, it should be cleared with me. Out of respect. You can’t write something that is not correct.

Me: Isn’t that what I’m doing right now?

Haskins Sr.: Respectfully, I want to work with you to a certain level. But some of the people you talked to, their stories are not accurate. Even if it’s positive.

Me: What stories? Who?

Haskins Sr.: I’m trying to get you to see my point, but you already made it clear you are going to write it no matter what.

Me: I am going to write a story, of course. If something is inaccurate, I certainly want to know. I don’t print things that are inaccurate.

Haskins Sr.: With quite a few names you just mentioned, the story is not correct.

Me: You don’t know what the story is, respectfully.

Haskins Sr.: It’s not about the story. I am the source. I’ve been doing this for 10 years. The content is faith, family and football. Every writer I work with basically goes through me with the source. A few names there do not have the process of knowing what’s going on. It’s all about self-serving and promoting what their agenda is. If you want to move forward and write the story, go ahead. I’m telling you out of respect for my family and Dwayne and our values, consider what I’m saying.

Me: I’m listening to you, sir. I’m looking for the middle ground here. Who specifically are you talking about?

Haskins Sr.: I’m not going to go into that. You should’ve come to me first.

Me: I sent you a message two months ago. Respectfully, I did come to you first because I was looking for people you would recommend. When I didn’t get anybody, I started to talk to people I know. I found people who worked with or said they coached Dwayne as a young boy. I’m not interested in high school or college Dwayne. This is New Jersey Dwayne.

Haskins Sr.: That’s not accurate, those people. That’s where I’m at on it. Let me pray on it.

Me: Let me ask you this: Besides yourself, who I do want to talk to, who would you recommend in New Jersey who is accurate? This way we can get somebody you are comfortable with.

Haskins Sr.: I’m going to consider that. Can I call you back? I just wanted to call you back so we could establish a relationship so we can move forward and figure out what is best for you and what is best for Dwayne.

Me: Perfect. I like that. I think we can figure out some middle ground if you give me some names.

Haskins Sr: OK, but at the end of the day, I want you to know: It’s about his family integrity and my core values. Everyone has to match up with that for me.

Me: I understand that. I didn’t call anybody I don’t trust.

Haskins Sr.: That’s the issue right there. It’s who I trust. Those names you took the liberty to call are not part of my inner circle. They do not know my values. You are basing it off your position, but you have to consider mine.

Me: That’s why I circled back.

After confirming the lede anecdote in the main story linked above, Haskins Sr. determined there was no middle ground and hung up the phone. I called back, left a message and sent another text. No replies.

In the days that followed, a Bullis School communications official did not reply to three phone messages and an email looking to confirm information reported elsewhere and Cilento did not return multiple messages.

Somerville United president Phil Doman — who coached Haskins in eighth grade — said he would talk with the Haskins’ family’s permission. He never called back and did not answer a second call.

Ryan Dunleavy may be reached at rdunleavy@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @rydunleavy. Find our Giants coverage on Facebook.