Elijah Minnie is projected to be one of the top junnior basketball players in the WPIAL, but the 6-foot-8 forward has been ruled ineligible to play this season at Lincoln Park.
The WPIAL ruled today that Minnie enrolled at Lincoln Park, at least partly, for athletic reasons, which is against WPIAL and PIAA rules. The league made the ruling after a hearing.
Minnie's case has a number of twists and turns. He attended Monessen as a freshman and showed plenty of potential in basktball. But as a sophomore, he was sent to Summit Academy, a school for adjudicated youth.
After he served his time at Summit Academy, he enrolled at Lincoln Park, a charter school in Midland with a strong basketball program.
It's hard to know all the particulars in Minnie's case or the reasons he claims to attend Lincoln Park. The hearing at the WPIAL today was closed and WPIAL executive director Tim O'Malley said he can't discuss facts from a closed hearing. I hope to have more on this story in the future.But do you scratch your head a little when you figure Lincoln Park is 69 miles away from Monessen High School?
But it's a pretty safe bet that Minnie will appeal his case to the PIAA. And judging from the past, there is a good chance the PIAA will overturn the ruling.
