Elite recruit Davenport can play after judge grants emergency motion
With six games remaining in her senior season, elite 2019 Rutgers frontcourt recruit Maori Davenport can rejoin her team at Charles Henderson High School despite a controversial suspension from Alabama's governing body for public school athletics.
She can play as early as Friday night thanks to an emergency motion granted by Pike County Circuit Judge Sonny Reagan, according to AL.com's Josh Bean, though her eligibility is pending a hearing.
Davenport's parents filed a lawsuit against the Alabama High School Athletics Association and executive director Steve Savarese earlier this week asking the courts to invalidate her suspension for violating the organization's amateurism rules. She received a stipend from USA Basketball for $857.20 after participating in the FIBA Americas U18 Championship last summer. While players are allowed to receive funding to offset costs related to the national team, USA Basketball failed to confirm the maximum amount Davenport could receive under AHSAA bylaws, which is $250.
Though she returned the money to USA Basketball - which took full responsibility for the mistake - upon being informed of the error, the AHSAA still suspended Davenport for the remainder of her senior year. Savarese insisted he wouldn't overturn the November ruling, and the decision was upheld after two appeals.
Some of the biggest names in basketball have rallied to Davenport's side, including Alabama-born Golden State Warriors star DeMarcus Cousins, retired Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, USA Basketball senior women's team head coach Dawn Staley, and the WNBA itself.
What the Alabama High School Athletic Association has done to Maori Davenport is wrong on so many levels that I don't know where to start. I know what this feels like because I was treated like shit by them too. Being a kid from Alabama, I'm with Maori Davenport. Fix this now!
— DeMarcus Cousins (@boogiecousins) January 5, 2019
This #MaoriDavenport situation is just about the most ridiculous thing I’ve heard in youth basketball. Let her play!
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) January 11, 2019
As I prepare & the excitement builds for our conference game today I can only imagine the emptiness Maori Davenport feels every time her team suits up to play. AL state officials if you all have heart in your chest or a daughter, sister or niece...do right by them if not Maori! https://t.co/kkCkKThDZ5
— dawnstaley (@dawnstaley) January 6, 2019
The WNBA urges the Alabama High School Athletic Association to reinstate Maori Davenport. Let her play the rest of her senior season instead of being penalized for an honest mistake made by others. https://t.co/CVgHNSqVAZ
— WNBA (@WNBA) January 4, 2019
Davenport remains compliant by the NCAA's standards for amateurism.