PIAA rules Imani Christian basketball player Kieshaun Demus eligible, reverses WPIAL decision

By: Chris Harlan
Tuesday, November 19, 2024 | 5:26 PM

The PIAA reversed an earlier WPIAL decision and ruled Imani Christian basketball player Kieshaun Demus eligible after an appeal hearing Tuesday.

The 6-foot-3 sophomore guard transferred from North Hills.

“He is super excited to know he’s back with the team and gets to compete and not lose his sophomore season,” Imani Christian coach Khayree Wilson said.

The decision came less than two weeks before basketball season starts Nov. 29.

Imani Christian won WPIAL and PIAA Class A titles the past two years. The Saints voluntarily moved up to 6A this year.

The WPIAL had ruled Demus ineligible at a hearing Sept. 30. An issue raised by the WPIAL was that Demus had played in summer league games with the Imani Christian team before he was officially enrolled at the private school in East Hills.

The school’s administration later attributed the potential rules violation to a “unique quirk” in its enrollment process. In an Oct. 16 statement, Imani said, “… new students are not finally enrolled until they participate in a summer Enrichment Academy in July even though all other aspects of the enrollment process are completed in May or June … .”

Wilson said Demus transferred to Imani before taking part in the summer leagues.

“I think (the PIAA) gave us a fair shot and heard all of the evidence,” Wilson said. “They knew there was no recruiting involved or anything to that extent. It was more administrative.”

Wilson said the school already has made changes to avoid future issues.

The WPIAL board last month launched an investigation into “possible recruiting violations and administrative and institutional oversight issues” at Imani.

Demus, Wilson and others gathered Tuesday morning in a school conference room for the PIAA appeal hearing, which was held remotely via Zoom. Wilson said the team learned the results shortly before starting practice.

“They were so excited,” Wilson said of Demus’ teammates. “In our breakdown, everybody was excited and jumping around. Now it’s game time. Our season starts next Friday. We get to not be shorthanded.”

Demus in September announced his first college offer from Pepperdine.

Chris Harlan is a TribLive reporter covering sports. He joined the Trib in 2009 after seven years as a reporter at the Beaver County Times. He can be reached at charlan@triblive.com.

Tags: Imani Christian