High School Sports

A lawsuit was filed Tuesday on behalf of T.A. Cunningham, a defensive lineman for Los Alamitos High School, challenging an ineligibility ruling by the California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section.

Michael Caspino, the player's attorney, told ESPN's Kyle Bonagura the CIF-SS initially denied Cunningham's hardship application but, after being presented with paperwork showing his family was evicted from its Georgia home earlier this year, the governing body said it would instead open an undue influence investigation related to his connection to the Levels Sports Group, which meant Cunningham would remain ineligible.

"T.A. Cunningham is being treated differently," Caspino said. "He really is."

Cunningham is one of the top players in the 2024 college football recruiting class. He's a 5-star prospect and the No. 19 overall recruit in that year's group, according to 247Sports' composite rankings.

The lawsuit states the lineman transferred to Los Alamitos during the offseason based on a conversation between his father and the Levels Sports Group.

"The Levels Team promised that the Cunningham family would have a home, transportation and meals in California," the court filing said. "A promise was even made that the Levels Team would provide a separate home in Georgia for [Cunningham's] mother."

Levels is a marketing group aimed a providing high school and college student-athletes with name, image and likeness (NIL) deals, but its co-founder Chris Flores was arrested in August and charged with multiple counts of sexual assault of a minor.

The lawsuit states Cunningham's agreement with Levels was rescinded after Flores' arrest, which left him homeless and with no NIL deals to provide income.

"He has been victimized," the filing said.

The initial response from the CIF-SS said the player's eligibility waiver was declined "based on the grounds that [Cunningham] does not meet the definition of a 'homeless student' and/or has failed to establish that his change of schools was due to a 'hardship,'" per ESPN.

CIF-SS commissioner Rob Wigod declined to comment to Bonagura about the undue influence investigation or the lawsuit, citing "policy not to comment on pending litigation."

Los Alamitos' next game is Thursday night against Santa Margarita Catholic High School. Caspino is seeking an "immediate order" from the court to make Cunningham available for that contest.

A high school football game between two teams in Texas last week was called in the fourth quarter because of a massive brawl on the field.

In a fan video posted on YouTube, the incident began when two players for Dallas Roosevelt High School and Fort Worth Eastern Hills High School got tangled up after a play that led to both benches clearing.

Per Tim Weaver of USA Today, officials disqualified both teams as a result of the brawl.

The Dallas Independent School District said in a statement it is aware of the incident and is gathering additional information.

"The school and the local district executive committee are investigating and have the authority to impose penalties for involved students," the statement said.

Per Paul Wedding of WFAA.com, there were also fans in the stands who jumped the fence and got involved in the altercation. Play was stopped with about six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter with Eastern Hills holding a 35-12 lead.

According to Weaver, players involved in the brawl will miss the first half of the next game they play. Eligible players on the junior varsity squad will be elevated to the varsity roster for their team.

LeBron James may have been an Ohio State Buckeye if the one-and-done NBA draft rule was in place when he went straight from high school to the sport's highest level.

Perhaps his son Bronny will be the one to don Scarlet and Gray.

According to Joe Tipton of On3, the younger James is "looking to visit Ohio State" and will "likely" make such a trip Sept. 3, when the football program plays Notre Dame in a highly anticipated primetime showdown.

Tipton reported LeBron also hopes to be in attendance.

The Buckeyes are far from the only ones recruiting Bronny, as Tipton listed USC, Memphis and Oregon as interested. LeBron was quick to shut down rumors that the Ducks were the favorites:

LeBron is from Akron, Ohio, and is a longtime advocate of the Buckeyes. He has attended football games in the past, consistently shouts the team out on social media and has provided apparel for the men's basketball team.

"If I would have had one year of college, I would have ended up down here in Columbus at Ohio State," James previously said (h/t Tipton). "No matter where I go in the world, I will always rock Ohio State colors."

He will certainly be rocking those colors if his son joins the team.

While the men's basketball program is often overshadowed by the powerhouse football team, head coach Chris Holtmann brought in the No. 8 class in the 2022 recruiting cycle and has the No. 4 group in 2023, per 247Sports' composite rankings.

Landing James, a 4-star prospect and the No. 40 player in the 2023 class, would only strengthen what is already a bright future.

And it surely wouldn't hurt the Buckeyes' chances if he were on campus to experience the environment at Ohio Stadium when the football team hosts Notre Dame.

The Oregon Ducks men's basketball team may be appointment viewing during the 2023-24 season.

According to Jamie Shaw of On3 Sports, Oregon, Ohio State and USC are the three known schools to be recruiting Bronny James. He estimated that the Ducks had a 50 percent chance of landing LeBron James' son, while the other two programs each have a 25 percent chance.

"We are told James is going to go through the process," Shaw wrote. "At this point, the plan is to take virtual visits, Zooms, and in-person visits and go through the whole experience. Sources tell us that at this point, Oregon has a lead and that James will end up in Eugene."

The first connection that comes to mind with James and Oregon revolves around Nike. After all, LeBron signed a lifetime deal with the brand, and Phil Knight, who is the company's chairman, went to school at Oregon.

However, Shaw noted the younger James has a "comfort" with the program. It also doesn't hurt that Mookie Cook, who was travel teammates with Bronny in middle school, is part of the Ducks' loaded 2023 recruiting class.

That class already has Cook, who is a 5-star small forward, as well as 5-star power forward Kwame Evans Jr. and 4-star point guard Jackson Shelstad, per 247Sports' composite rankings.

It is currently the sixth-rated class and notably behind another contender in Ohio State (fourth), but adding James would certainly help it climb. James is a 4-star prospect and the No. 43 overall player, No. 7 shooting guard and No. 12 player from the state of California in the 2023 class, per 247Sports' composite rankings.

That is not to say this is a done deal.

USC is close to Sierra Canyon, where James attends high school. Former high school teammate Kijani Wright is also on the Trojans' roster.

As for Ohio State, the James family is from Ohio, and LeBron consistently supports the Buckeyes, be it by attending football games or shouting them out on Twitter. As Shaw noted, he even said he would have attended Ohio State if he played collegiately.

It seems as if this recruiting process will not end in the immediate future with James set to take visits to these schools and perhaps others, but Oregon apparently has the inside track for now.

Bronny James is the most famous high school basketball player in the country in large part because of his father, but there have not been many recruiting updates surrounding LeBron James' son.

In fact, there is not a single listed scholarship offer or crystal ball prediction on his 247Sports page.

Paul Biancardi of ESPN provided a rare update Friday when he reported there was a "strong feeling" James will attend college instead of playing professionally for the G League Ignite or elsewhere before he is eligible for the 2024 NBA draft.

Biancardi also listed UCLA, USC, Michigan, Ohio State and Oregon among the schools that are interested in him, and Jamie Shaw of On3 Sports provided an update on the potential landing spots on Monday.

According to Shaw, Michigan is not actively recruiting James even though head coach Juwan Howard was Miami Heat teammates with LeBron. What's more, UCLA is not actively recruiting him even though it is close to Sierra Canyon, where James plays high school basketball.

That leaves USC as a potential local option, and there is apparently "mutual interest" with the Trojans and Oregon. As for Ohio State, "There has been contact between the parties, and there is talk of a visit that is being scheduled."

There are connections in place between James and all three programs, which Shaw highlighted.

LeBron signed a lifetime deal with Nike, and the company's chairman, Phil Knight, went to school at Oregon. Not only is USC close to his current school, but Bronny's former teammate Kijani Wright plays for the Trojans.

And the James family is from Ohio, with LeBron frequently attending or reacting to Buckeyes football games and even once saying he would have donned the Scarlet and Gray if he did go to college for one season.

Whichever school lands the younger James will be getting more than just a famous son.

He is a 4-star prospect and the No. 43 overall player, No. 7 shooting guard and No. 12 player from California in the 2023 recruiting class, per 247Sports' composite rankings. He is no longer overshadowed by former teammates Amari Bailey, Ziaire Williams and Brandon Boston Jr. at Sierra Canyon and has shown notable progress on the floor.

"You can see the improvements he's made to his game from last year to this year," an NBA scout said of James last month, per Krysten Peek of Yahoo Sports. "He's proving to be more than just a name and impacts the game positively whether that's making the extra pass on offense or dropping down for loose balls in the post on defense."

Another one said, "The most impressive thing about Bronny at this age is his poise on the court and how he consistently makes the right decision. He's a hell of a defender, and you can see he's started to grow into his body a little more."

Bronny's father is one of the best players in NBA history but never made a name for himself at the collegiate level because he went straight to the pros from high school. The younger James could do something his father never did and compete for an NCAA title at Ohio State, USC, Oregon or another school.

Alyssa and Gisele Thompson, two sisters and soccer players from Los Angeles, have become the first high schoolers to sign a name, image and likeness deal with Nike, according to ESPN's Tom VanHaaren.

The Thompsons play soccer at Harvard-Westlake high school, and both are committed to continue their playing careers at Stanford and are members of the U.S. women's national team youth system.

Several college and high school athletes have inked NIL deals since the NCAA allowed athletes to profit off their names, images and likenesses in July 2021, including Jaden Rashada, who became the first high school football player to land such a deal when he signed with Athletes in Recruitment (AIR) to promote the company's app. 

Police records indicate several football players at Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, California, allegedly sexually assaulted one of their teammates in late August.

Connor Sheets, Hannah Fry and Laura J. Nelson of the Los Angeles Times reported the Santa Ana Police Department document was filed in September.

It does not clarify whether the allegations were investigated or if police were contacted, instead explaining the student's coach informed school officials. Police learned about the information secondhand from social services.

According to the document, "several football players forced a teammate to the floor and exposed their genitals. Then they held him down, as one player 'began humping' him from behind, through his pants."

The student wasn't physically hurt but left Mater Dei in the aftermath and suffered from anxiety.

Mater Dei, which is known for the success of its football program on the field, was already in recent headlines after the family of a former football player filed a lawsuit that the Los Angeles Times noted alleged "a culture of hazing and secrecy and a win-at-any-cost attitude."

That lawsuit states the football player was forced to fight a much larger teammate in a hazing ritual called "Bodies," which calls for players to exchange punches in the torso between the waist and shoulders until one relents.

The smaller student suffered a number of injuries, including a concussion and a broken nose, and the lawsuit said the school attempted to cover up the incident and did not contact paramedics or his family for 90 minutes.

A Santa Ana Police Department investigator recommended felony battery charges against the larger player, who remained on the football team, per Scott M. Reid of the Orange County Register. 

The player who suffered the injuries withdrew from the school.

While the Los Angeles Times noted head football coach Bruce Rollinson told police he was unaware of the "Bodies" ritual, the lawsuit said he told the injured student's father he "would be a millionaire if he got paid $100 every time he heard about Bodies or other physical rituals."

Following that lawsuit, another lawsuit alleged that two Mater Dei football players broke the jaw of a student who was on the basketball team. Older crude cellphone videos of football players also began to circulate.

Mater Dei hired the law firm Van Dermyden Makus to investigate its safety practices within the athletic department. The investigation remains ongoing.

Bronny James is cashing in on his fame, signing a name, image, likeness deal with PSD Underwear:

The 17-year-old son of LeBron James is a junior basketball player at Sierra Canyon School in California. 247Sports considers him a 4-star prospect and No. 34 overall in his class, although he is arguably the most famous high school player in the country thanks to the four-time NBA MVP.

Bronny could also get a leg up in the NBA draft when eligible in 2024 after LeBron's recent declaration.

"My last year will be played with my son," James told Jason Lloyd of The Athletic. "Wherever Bronny is at, that's where I'll be. I would do whatever it takes to play with my son for one year. It's not about the money at that point."

In the meantime, Bronny can earn money through new NIL laws at the high school level in California and once he reaches the NCAA. With over 6 million followers on Instagram and 5 million on TikTok, the endorsement opportunities should continue to roll in over the next few years. 

Basketball fans are eagerly anticipating Bronny James' entry into the NBA since it will impact where his father, LeBron James, takes his talents, but one school of thought suggests Bronny would benefit from additional seasoning before making the jump to the NBA.

According to Jason Lloyd of The Athletic, one talent evaluator said Bronny would be best off playing "two or three years" of college basketball before entering the draft.

Bronny, who stars at Sierra Canyon School in Chatsworth, California, will have to make a decision on his basketball future in 2023, which is when he is set to graduate from high school.

On 247Sports' composite rankings, Bronny is rated as a 4-star recruit, the No. 34 overall player, No. 6 combo guard and No. 4 player from California in the 2023 class.

Those rankings suggest Bronny has a solid shot at going to a top college and contributing immediately, although his plans remain unclear.

It has long been assumed that LeBron would move heaven and earth to play alongside his son in the NBA, and the four-time champion, MVP and Finals MVP confirmed as much during All-Star Weekend in Cleveland.

In an interview with Lloyd, James said: "My last year will be played with my son. Wherever Bronny is at, that's where I'll be. I would do whatever it takes to play with my son for one year. It's not about the money at that point."

As of now, unless the rules change, Bronny is not eligible to be drafted until 2024.

That means he could spend the 2023-24 season playing in college, overseas or in the G League, or he could even take the year off.

The G League has become a popular alternative for prospects who don't want to be one-and-done collegiate players.

Jalen Green of the Houston Rockets and Jonathan Kuminga of the Golden State Warriors both played for the G League Ignite squad last season before being top-10 picks in 2021.

The G League is effective at preparing players for the NBA, but if Bronny needs multiple years of preparation as the anonymous talent evaluator suggests, playing at a top-flight college program could be his best bet.

One fact worth considering is how long LeBron intends to play, as he is currently 37 and in his 19th season.

Injuries have nagged him at times in recent years, but he is still playing at an elite level, averaging 29.1 points, 7.9 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game.

He may not be in any hurry to retire, which could mean he would be willing to wait a few years while Bronny attends college.

LeBron will become a free agent after the 2022-23 season, though, and Bronny committing to enter the draft in 2024 would make it easier for LeBron to set himself up to become a free agent again during Bronny's draft year.

Bronny may not be fully NBA-ready by 2024, but the allure of landing LeBron in addition to Bronny should ensure that a team takes a chance on him regardless.

Adonis Lattimore, a Landstown High School wrestler born without legs, won the Virginia state championship. 

Per Jami Frankenberry of The Virginian-Pilot, Lattimore finished first in the Virginia High School League Class 6, 106-pound weight class at the state wrestling championships at the Virginia Beach Sports Center on Saturday.   

Lattimore scored a 5-1 victory over Korlan Tran from Lake Braddock in the final. He earned a 4-3 win against Robinson's Caden Smith in the semifinal. 

"I’ve been dreaming of this since I knew what it was, and to finally have it happen is just—I don’t know how to explain it," Lattimore said after his win. "Really if you work hard, you can do anything—even win a state championship without legs."

Landstown wrestling head coach James Sanderlin said Lattimore's win was a goal they set four years ago "and this year it finally came to fruition."

According to Frankenberry, Lattimore went 32-7 this season and won the state title one week after finishing second in the Region A tournament.