Miami powerhouse to miss district and state tournaments after FHSAA decision.
A spectacular season on the court for
Dr. Krop (Miami, Fla.) (Miami, Fla.) came to end Tuesday when the Florida High School Athletics Association upheld a ruling that will force the Lightning to forfeit 19 games and miss the district and state playoffs, according to the
Miami Herald.
Bryan Delancy
Photo by Jim Redman
The controversy revolves around senior guard Bryan Delancy, a Bahamas native who could not produce the necessary paperwork to prove his eligibility as a foreign-born student-athlete.
Krop notched several victories this season over nationally-ranked opponents, most notably a 21-point blowout over
Austin Rivers and
Winter Park (Fla.) and a 70-63 shocker over then-No. 2
Miller Grove (Lithonia, Ga.).
The Miami school was 20-3 prior to the ruling and regarded as a favorite to win Florida's Class 6A state title.
Miller Grove head coach Sharman White said the decision won't necessarily change his feelings on the loss to Dr. Krop, despite officially improving to 24-0 after a win over
Lithonia Tuesday night.
"We still feel like it's a loss," White said. "It's unfortunate for Dr. Krop and their kids. We won't celebrate or anything like that."
White was uncertain where the reversal of fortune should put his team among the nation's elite. The Wolverines are No. 11 in this week's Xcellent 25.
"We trust the writers," White said. "We will let them decide that."
