Recruiting Questions Prompt IHSA to Bounce H-F Out of Basketball Playoffs

Homewood-Flossmoor's girls basketball team was booted from IHSA playoffs for bylaw violations as determined by the Illinois High School Association. 

The team forfeits its Wednesday night game against T.F. North, according to an IHSA release.

H-F will also automatically forfeit its regular season wins for this season, according to the report.

The violations came to light after Homewood-Flossmoor recently asked the IHSA to review the findings of its own internal investigation, which resulted from a lawsuit filed by one of its current players.

The lawsuit questioned the transfer of four of head coach Tony Smith’s former players from Bolingbrook. It also claims also head coach Anthony Smith promised the six new players’ parents their girls would have starting positions on the team and they would get help in getting athletic scholarships for college, according to reports. The IHSA has a rule that prohibits any recruiting no matter where the students live.

The IHSA reportedly cleared the transfers before the season and declared them eligible.

Other bylaws in question involve a text message from Smith to players, promoting an "open gym," when some of the recipients of the message were not yet enrolled at Homewood-Flossmoor High School. 

Also at issue is a form signed by Smith indicating him as the head coach for a non-school team featuring 11 Homewood-Flossmoor players. The tournament occurred during the school year—when IHSA bylaws restrict the number of high school players that can compete on a non-school team. 

"Not adhering to these by-laws created a distinct advantage for the Homewood-Flossmoor girls’ basketball program,” said IHSA Executive Director Marty Hickman. “The school has admitted to violating IHSA bylaws. ... In fairness to the teams in the tournament who abided by IHSA rules, removing Homewood-Flossmoor from competition was the most equitable decision.” 

IHSA Executive Director Marty Hickman said more violations, potentially involving other sports as well, may be discovered as the investigation continues.