By ADAM ZAGORIA
The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) has ruled multiple players at The Patrick School ineligible for 30 days due to state transfer rules and the school is appealing the ruling.
Jonathan Kuminga, Adama Sanogo and Bretner Mutombo all sat out the Celtics’ season-opening win on Thursday. Two of the three players were ruled ineligible for 30 days due to transfer rules and the school must submit paperwork on the third. Due to privacy issues, the school declined to say which two were ruled ineligible and which needs paperwork submitted.
“We are in communication with the state officials trying to rectify the boys’ eligibility status,” Chris Chavannes, the Patrick School head coach and principal, told ZAGSBLOG.
A source said the two sides are in dispute over the status of the state’s current transfer rules.
In an email sent Thursday evening, NJSIAA Executive Director Larry White said, “My Assistant Director and our legal counsel are in discussions as I write this.” He had no further comment as of Friday morning.
The Celtics are ranked No. 3 nationally by USA Today and the news comes as the team is about to play in a series of high profile games and events, including Monday’s game with rival Roselle Catholic in the Kyrie Irving Invitational at Barclays Center, next week’s John Wall Holiday Invitational in North Carolina, a Jan. 3 date with Bronny James and Sierra Canyon (CA) set to be broadcast on ESPN2 and the prestigious Hoophall Classic over MLK Weekend.
Sitting for 30 days would mean missing all of those high-profile events before becoming eligible in mid-to-late January.
The 6-foot-8 Kuminga and the 6-10 Sanogo transferred to the Hillside, N.J. school from Our Savior New American on Long Island, while the 6-11 Mutombo transferred from Lincoln Academy (GA).
A native of the Congo, Kuminga is the No. 1 prospect in the Class of 2021, and is a projected Top 10-pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, per ESPN.com.
He is being recruited by Duke, Kentucky, Auburn and Texas Tech, among others.
Sanogo, originally from Mali, is ranked the No. 10 center in the Class of 2021 per 247Sports.com and holds offers from Seton Hall, UConn, Xavier, Oregon, TCU and Marquette, among others.
Mutombo is ranked the No. 17 center in the Class of 2021 and holds offers from TCU, Penn State and Georgia, among others.
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