Prime faculty soccer prospect T.A. Cunningham dominated eligible to play for California highschool after weeks-long switch drama

T.A. Cunningham, a high faculty soccer prospect who has been withheld from taking part in for weeks following a cross-country switch, has been dominated eligible, the California Interscholastic Federation Southern Part introduced Monday.

Cunningham moved to California from Georgia in the summertime however waited weeks to have his switch accredited by the Southern Part. 4 video games into the season, his highschool, Los Alamitos, was knowledgeable that Cunningham was deemed ineligible.

Two weeks later, the part reversed its determination.

“We carried out an intensive overview of the weather on this case, and all related CIF Bylaws that apply, as we do with all switch functions which can be submitted to our workplace,” the CIF Southern Part mentioned in a press release. “We adopted all our required processes and timelines in finishing this overview. Upon doing so, and after receiving new data that clarified points associated to the preliminary denial, we made the willpower that the coed was eligible to play at Los Alamitos Excessive Faculty as of [Monday].”

It’s unclear what new data grew to become out there and the part mentioned it will not remark additional in regards to the course of.

Cunningham had sought an injunction for fast eligibility in superior court docket two weeks in the past, but it surely was denied.

“We’re ecstatic to see T.A. Cunningham take the sphere this week as a Griffin, and appreciative of the thorough course of carried out by CIF,” Los Alamitos coach Ray Fenton instructed ESPN in a textual content message.

Cunningham’s transfer to California was set into movement after representatives from Ranges Sports activities Group, a would-be sports activities advertising firm, offered the Cunningham household on the concept they’d have the ability to safe him advertising alternatives if he was taking part in California, the place it’s authorized for highschool athletes to revenue off their title, picture and likeness.

“The Ranges Workforce promised that the Cunningham household would have a house, transportation and meals in California,” in keeping with the injunction filed on Cunningham’s behalf. “A promise was even made that the Ranges Workforce would offer a separate dwelling in Georgia for [Cunningham’s] mom.” When Cunningham moved to California, he and his youthful brother stayed on the dwelling of Ranges co-founder Chris “Coach Frogg” Flores, who was later arrested on Aug. 8 on a number of counts of sexual assault of a minor.

Within the wake of Flores’ arrest, the corporate stopped speaking with Cunningham and later agreed to terminate the contract for the advertising settlement. Cunningham, a defensive finish, is the top-ranked participant in California within the Class of 2024 and the No. 33 general prospect within the ESPN 300.