In a ruling from the University Interscholastic League Monday, the top-ranked Duncanville High School boys basketball team was stripped of its 2022 state championship, and the girls team was banned from competing in this season's playoffs due to violations committed by both teams.
According to WFAA, the boys team had their title stripped after a player during their title run was found to be ineligible, and the girls team is accused of posting a flyer for open tryouts which attracted a player from another school district, violating UIL recruiting rules.
Boys coach, David Peavy, along with girls coach LeJeanna Howard, have each been suspended a year over the violations, and each additionally received three years of probation.
The UIL ruled that Duncanville had to forfeit all games in which then-senior point guard Anthony Black played, which included the Class 6A state championship game where Black was named most valuable player after Duncanville beat McKinney 69-49.
The UIL ruled Black ineligible to compete after he transferred from Coppell to Duncanville. Rules prohibit players from changing schools for athletic purposes.
The girls team was accused of posting a flyer advertising tryouts for players not already on the team, which also attracted a player from another district. Howard said that while she believes a colleague posted the message to social media, she nonetheless took accountability for not double-checking if that was okay.
The UIL said because they didn't go through the proper channels, that went against the UIL recruiting rules.
As a result of the title being stripped, McKinney was retroactively named 2002 state champion.
McKinney school district said after they were made aware of the court's ruling, they will "acknowledge this honor" for the 2021-2022 McKinney boys team.
"Regardless of the title, we could not have been more proud of this team's effort and accomplishments," McKinney officials said.
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