Boys’ basketball: Kameron Chatman makes appearance on the court

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Defying a ruling by the Southern Section and the CIF, Long Beach Poly Coach Sharrief Metoyer decided to insert ineligible junior forward Kameron Chatman into the Open Division semifinal playoff game against Mater Dei with 1:12 left Tuesday night.

Chatman was declared ineligible after moving from Oregon. The Southern Section ruled he was following his travel ball coach, Metoyer, which is against state rules. He was declared ineligible for one year and was set to become eligible Saturday.

Poly lost to Mater Dei, 83-63, so even though Chatman was ineligible, it won’t affect the outcome of the game. But Metoyer could be facing punishment, not to mention the Poly athletic program.

Poly Principal Joe Carlson was on the phone afterward dealing with the repercussions of his coach knowingly playing an ineligible player.

Thom Simmons, a spokesman for the Southern Section, said in a text message, ‘If an ineligible player was used in that contest, we will be discussing that with the school at our earliest possibility.’

According to the Southern Section’s Blue Book rule 500.5, ‘Any school knowingly or unknowingly violating the rule may be suspended from membership in the CIF Southern Section.’

Metoyer made a passionate, emotional statement afterward, saying he felt how unfair the CIF had been to Chatman, who is his godson.

“Somebody had to make a statement,’ he said. ‘The game of basketball means nothing—we’re supposed to be in the business of helping kids.” It was a noble attempt at making a statement by Metoyer and expressing support for his player, but the ramifications could be severe and it was done the wrong way.

The Southern Section will wait for a report from Poly before making any decisions. Commissioner Rob Wigod is headed to Sacramento for a meeting, so nothing is expected on Wednesday.

-- Eric Sondheimer