WPIAL rules Mars’ Fusco eligible for playoffs after anonymous info caused questions

By: HSSN Staff
Thursday, February 7, 2019 | 12:57 PM

Mars basketball standout Khori Fusco is allowed to play in the playoffs, the WPIAL decided Thursday.

The WPIAL held a lengthy hearing Wednesday to examine the senior’s postseason eligibility after anonymous information prompted the WPIAL to review paperwork from his August transfer from Clairton.

Fusco is a 16-point scorer for the top-ranked team in WPIAL Class 5A.

“There has been an inordinate amount of anonymous information that’s been shared with this office either in the form of letters, emails or phone calls that gave indication that he may not have ever lived in that district,” WPIAL executive director Tim O’Malley said. “That’s the reason that we went back and looked at the paperwork.”

The WPIAL ruled Fusco eligible shortly after his transfer. However, after review, the WPIAL noticed that Fusco’s transfer paperwork was dated Aug 6, 2018, O’Malley said.

The PIAA enacted a rule last summer that made all transfers after the start of 10th grade automatically ineligible for the postseason unless they meet one of the very specific exceptions. The rule was “effective for transfers occurring on or after August 6, 2018,” according to PIAA rules.

After deliberation, the WPIAL board decided Thursday that since Fusco’s father received the transfer paperwork before the Aug. 6 deadline, Fusco should be allowed to participate in the postseason.

As for Fusco’s residency, that’s an issue school districts decide.

“Mars enrolled him as a resident student,” O’Malley said. “We have principal-to-principal sign-off. That’s how (residency) is established. We don’t have an investigative body.”

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

Tags: Mars