Recruiting Violations Lawsuit Against H-F High Dropped Friday

The Homewood-Flossmoor High School girls basketball player who brought a suit against the school alleging recruiting violations dropped the suit Friday. Her attorney said they had little to gain from continuing.

“My clients are seniors, and their season was already ruined," Gregory Mitchell told the Chicago Tribune Friday. "There is no reason now that prom season is coming and all that fun stuff to have them continue to deal with this.”

After the suit was filed Jan. 17, the Illinois High School Association blocked the No. 1 ranked team from the state tournament and Head Coach Anthony Smith was suspended.

The suit claimed Smith promised the parents of six new players who played on Smith's summer league team who transferred from other schools that their girls would have starting positions 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.

While the suit called the transfer of students a violation of IHSA rules, District 233 says the association approved all six transfers.