The parents of embattled Alabama high school basketball player Maori Davenport have filed a lawsuit against the Alabama High School Athletic Association and its director, Steve Savarese, hoping to clear the way for Davenport to return to the court. It was filed on Thursday afternoon in Pike County Circuit Court.
Davenport, a senior at Charles Henderson in Troy, Alabama, was ruled ineligible by Savarese and the AHSAA for depositing an $857.20 stipend check from USA Basketball after playing for the U-18 team in August. The money was mistakenly sent by the organization, and USA Basketball has admitted it was at fault. The AHSAA says Davenport violated Alabama's amateurism rules when she deposited the check. Davenport repaid USA Basketball in full as soon as she was made aware of the mistake by USA Basketball in November. The AHSAA ruled that she was ineligible in November and has twice upheld that ruling on appeal.
The case has drawn national attention, and Davenport has received support from Billie Jean King and Kobe Bryant, among others.
Davenport, a 6-foot-4 forward/center, is the No. 15 prospect in the espnW HoopGurlz Top 100 for the 2019 class and helped lead her high school team to a state championship in 2018. She has committed to play at Rutgers University next year.
Her family -- Mario and Tara Davenport are listed as plaintiffs -- is being represented by the Cole Law Firm. The firm announced the lawsuit in a tweet on Thursday.
It is unclear if Davenport will be cleared to play in Friday's scheduled home game against Carroll High School at 6:30 p.m. ET.
