Ineligibility bumps Kent-Meridian from playoffs

Kent-Meridian High School will not play in the South Puget Sound League 4A boys basketball playoffs this weekend due to a "clerical error" surrounding the ineligibility of one of its players.

A recently received high school transcript from Flint, Mich., for K-M senior Calvin Edwards indicated he entered the ninth grade as a freshman in 2007 in Michigan, making him ineligible to play this season as a sixth-year senior. K-M must forfeit all of its wins that Edwards played in. He transferred to K-M last fall.

The school self-reported the error to the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA), stating that it was acting on the information that it had which did not indicate an issue of ineligibility for Edwards.

"That's not an excuse," said David Lutes, athletic director for the Kent School District. "We have a responsibility to hold kids out until they are 100 percent eligible."

During a hearing Wednesday afternoon, the school appealed the decision asking that K-M keep its victories for the season. The appeal was not granted. Lutes also said that the school will not be making a second appeal to play in the playoffs or regain the forfeited victories.

"He was their number one player," Lutes said. "It does create an unfair advantage, (and) it's a difficult situation to be in. We did what we thought was right."

Edwards averaged 16.5 points per game. The Royals had an overall record of 12-8 and 10-6 league mark before the forfeits.

Kentwood, which did not initially make the playoffs this year, will replace K-M and play in the No. 5 spot in Puyallup in this weekend's games.

Contact Kent Reporter Reporter, Schools, Education, Sports Michelle Conerly at mconerly@kentreporter.com or 253-872-6600, ext. 5056.

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