High School Boys Basketball Team Must Forfeit Season: PGCPS

UPPER MARLBORO, MD — The boys basketball team at Dr. Henry A. Wise Jr. High School were eyeing a run for the championship this season with a solid record. But the program has had to forfeit their season for violating school and state athletic association rules and regulations involving residency.

The Pumas were ranked No. 23 in this week's Top 25 High School On SI Maryland Boys Basketball State Rankings, were 17-5 and scheduled to play in the Prince George's County championship game on Wednesday night.

In a statement, a spokesperson for Prince George’s County Public Schools said:

The Dr. Henry A. Wise Jr. High School boys basketball team will forfeit the entire season due to a violation of the PGCPS and Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association (MPSSAA) rules and regulations. The school’s athletic department is collaborating with other schools to adjust the upcoming game schedule accordingly. We recognize the impact this decision may have on our players, families and community. However, maintaining the integrity of our program is our top priority, and we fully accept responsibility for this oversight. We are dedicated to ensuring that all future participation complies with PGCPS and MPSSAA regulations. We are taking immediate steps to address this issue and strengthen our processes to prevent similar situations in the future.

The Pumas played the entire 2024-2025 season with an ineligible player and now will miss the county championship game, but are still eligible for state playoffs.

According to Wise Coach Louis Wilson, the player in question had been "vetted through the athletic department" at the start of the season, reported Sports Illustrated.