Sewickley Academy ‘adamantly’ denies recruiting allegations in letter to WPIAL

By: HSSN Staff
Tuesday, September 18, 2018 | 3:06 AM

The WPIAL board of directors accepted a letter from Sewickley Academy’s administration that insisted its boys basketball coaches were not guilty of recruiting.

Allegations of recruiting were raised last week during an eligibility hearing for Isaiah Smith , who transferred this summer from Sewickley Academy to Lincoln Park.

Smith’s father Neil testified Sept. 10 that Sewickley assistant Almamy Thiero and then-assistant Nathan Roesing handed out applications to Smith and other AAU teammates four years ago when they were in seventh grade.

The WPIAL asked for a written response from Sewickley Academy and received a letter from the head of the school.

“He vehemently and adamantly denied that happened,” WPIAL executive director Tim O’Malley told the board Monday. “(The letter) explains their enrollment process, and explains there is no way possible for applications to be presented to anybody outside of the director of admission’s office.”

The board voted 14-3 to accept the letter, satisfying the WPIAL’s inquiry.

Smith, now a junior at Lincoln Park, enrolled at Sewickley Academy for eighth grade. He was an all-section player as a sophomore last season when the Panthers won the WPIAL Class 2A title.

The WPIAL ruled Smith eligible earlier this month, but only after Lincoln Park and Sewickley Academy exchanged recruiting accusations.

Sewickley Academy had contested Smith’s transfer to Lincoln Park as athletically motivated, writing in paperwork that “we understand with a high level of certainty that the assistant coach of the basketball team at Lincoln Park was actively recruiting Isaiah Smith.”

Lincoln Park’s coaching staff refuted those allegations at the hearing. Smith’s parents testified that financial hardship was the reason their son left Sewickley Academy.

Chris Harlan is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Chris at charlan@tribweb.com or via Twitter @CHarlan_Trib.

Tags: Sewickley Academy