Elite prospect Charles Bassey, who is ranked No. 2 in the ESPN 25 for the 2019 class, has been ruled ineligible for the season by the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools, he told ESPN.
Bassey, a 6-foot-10 power forward from St. Anthony Catholic High School in San Antonio, averaged 20.2 points, 17.1 rebounds and 5.9 blocks per game last season.
According to the San Antonio Express-News, Bassey was ruled ineligible for "receiving inducements for athletic purposes." Two other students were also ruled ineligible for the same reason.
"I had no idea this was going to happen. It just came up, that I wasn't going to play," Bassey told ESPN in November. "They never gave me a reason. They just said, 'Charles Bassey is not eligible to play this year.' There were no issues. I played last year, so I'm not sure why it happened. We keep asking questions and they never answer.
"I'm not leaving. I'm staying at this school because I have to support my teammates. We're all brothers. I'm not leaving."
Bassey was used as a substitute in St. Anthony's game on Tuesday, despite his status. St. Anthony coach Jeff Merritt was fired two days later for the decision to use Bassey in a game.