New York City’s Public Schools Athletic League canceled a varsity boy’s basketball championship game on Friday after an audit found teams violated age limit and academic eligibility rules, according to Schools Chancellor David Banks.
Officials launched a full audit of the league after basketball players at Thomas Jefferson High School, also in Brooklyn, were found to be academically ineligible earlier this month ahead of another playoff game. “For years prior to this administration, PSAL eligibility auditing was allowed to languish, fostering a culture among some of our athletic programs that skirted or outright flouted academic and other eligibility requirements to play student-athletes who were not eligible,” said Banks. “This will not be tolerated under this administration.”
“Adults put the long-term future of young people second for momentary high school glory on the court,” said Banks. “These adults are not helping students, they are only helping themselves.”