CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) - Five players and three coaches at Chicago's Kenwood Academy have been ruled ineligible to participate in the boys' basketball playoffs amid an investigation into possible residency violations.
An Illinois High School Association (IHSA) investigation into the matter started with a complaint that prompted an investigation by the CPS Inspector General’s Office. It found evidence that players falsified documents to meet residency requirements or provided inaccurate addresses.
One of the players, Kenwood senior Edwon Duling, is in the Students in Temporary Living Situations program. It allows him to compete. He doesn’t have stable housing. Basketball, he said, is all he has.
“It hurts really bad that they’re trying to take something that I really love,” Duling told CBS-2. “I can’t even do something that I enjoy doing. I can’t go to school without getting questioned.”
IHSA Executive Director Craig Anderson issued a lengthy statement explaining the decision.
“This is a very unfortunate situation, and we take no solace in delivering a ruling like this,” said Anderson.
Despite these absences, Kenwood defeated Morton in the Class 4A regional semifinal Thursday. They will play Oak Lawn High School tonight for the regional championship.
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