Zion Harmon thrilled Hoopfest fans last year when his Adair County team played nationally ranked Olive Branch, MS. Harmon scored 34 points while many Division I coaches, including UK coach John Calipari, looked on.
The Harmon’s moved to Benton and Zion enrolled at Marshall County High School this school year, the fourth school in as many years for the sophomore sensation. As a seventh grader, Zion played at Antioch Lighthouse Christian in Tennessee, in eighth grade he helped lead Bowling Green to a state title and last season as a freshman played at Adair County.
In August, the Kentucky High School Athletic Association ruled Zion ineligible, citing ByLaw 6 Transfer Rule-Citizens of the U.S. or U.S. Territories which states in part:
Sec. 1 (a) Any student who has been enrolled in grades nine (9) through twelve (12) and has participated in any varsity contest in any sport at any school while maintaining permanent residence in the United States or a United States territory following enrollment in grade nine (9) and who then transfers schools shall be ineligible for interscholastic athletics at any level in any sport for one year from the date of last participation in varsity interscholastic athletics.
Zion’s family appealed the ruling and was denied on Oct. 16 by the hearing officer who issued a recommended order that Zion be declared ineligible to participate in interscholastic activities until March 5, 2019.
The decision by KHSAA Commissioner Julian Tackett was upheld on Nov. 15 following a standard appeal process by Marshall County High School.
Some exceptions to the bylaw are in part: Sec 2 (a) … “may be waived if the student has changed schools through properly documented reassignment by the Board of Education to another school”
Sec 2 (1)(a) … “if there is a bona fide change in residence by the parents and student that precedes a student’s change of schools”
Mike Harmon, father of Zion, has stated that they looked at schools near airports due to his job as a travel nurse, and academically, a school that would allow Zion to graduate in three years as opposed to a traditional four-year program. Zion finished his freshman year at Adair County with a 3.7 GPA.
On Wednesday, Mike Harmon filed an injunction on behalf of his son, against the KHSAA with the Marshall Circuit Court asking for a reversal of the Final Order of the KHSAA and allow Zion to participate in high school athletics. A status hearing has been set for Dec. 14 at 2:00 p.m.