WPIAL holds hearing on possible Imani Christian recruiting violations

By: Chris Harlan
Monday, January 13, 2025 | 7:47 PM

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The WPIAL has wrapped up an investigation into possible recruiting violations by the Imani Christian basketball program with a decision pending.

The WPIAL, which launched the inquiry in October, held a closed-door hearing Monday at the league office in Scott. WPIAL executive director Scott Seltzer said the board’s decision would be shared within 7-10 days.

Imani Christian boys basketball coach Khayree Wilson, athletic director Cliff Simon and head of school Paulo Nzambi were among those attending Monday’s hearing. Nzambi declined comment afterward.

The WPIAL investigation was sparked by an earlier eligibility hearing for an Imani Christian transfer.

“We heard something in a hearing and needed some clarifications, because things didn’t sound right,” Seltzer said Monday without elaborating.

Seltzer said the Imani Christian administration cooperated with the process.

The WPIAL board in October asked Seltzer to investigate, which was a rather uncommon step taken by the board. The move came after a Sept. 30 hearing for sophomore basketball player Kieshaun Demus, who transferred from North Hills to Imani Christian. The WPIAL ruled Demus ineligible, with the board finding that his transfer was motivated at least partially by athletics.

However, the PIAA later overturned the WPIAL decision, making Demus fully eligible in November.

One issue originally raised was that Demus had played in a summer league with Imani Christian prior to his enrollment. The East Hills school later attributed the error to a “unique quirk” in the enrollment process that since was fixed.

Imani Christian is 7-4 overall this season, 4-1 in Section 2-6A. The team voluntarily moved to Class 6A this winter after winning consecutive WPIAL and PIAA titles in Class A.

Seltzer said a separate investigation into allegations involving the Baldwin football program led the WPIAL to issue minimal discipline. The football program was placed on probation for one year for using an ineligible player in a scrimmage, he said, while the coach and athletic administration were censured.

Another Rowan at Lincoln Park

Lincoln Park transfer Mason Rowan is ineligible for the basketball playoffs this winter but can continue to compete in the regular season. The WPIAL board finalized his eligibility Monday.

Rowan, the son of former WPIAL standout player and coach Ron Rowan, lived previously in Florida and Italy, but returned this winter to Beaver County. His brother, Maverick, won WPIAL and PIAA titles with Lincoln Park in 2014.

Mason Rowan is a 6-foot-4 junior.

Rowan already was deemed presumptively eligible for the regular season under PIAA transfer rules, which let him play in games before the WPIAL finalized his status. However, PIAA rules make most transfers after 10th grade postseason ineligible for one year.

Rowan scored in double figures in Lincoln Park’s past three games. The Leopards (2-9) are 0-5 in Section 4-5A.

No place like home

Higher-seeded teams will continue to have home-court advantage in the first round of the WPIAL basketball playoffs. Chief operating officer Vince Sortino, who oversees WPIAL postseason tournaments, said the league intends to keep the same format as last year.

Lacrosse co-op

Girls at Eden Christian can play lacrosse at North Catholic under a co-operative agreement approved by the WPIAL on Monday. North Catholic competes in Class 2A

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