Zion Harmon’s final attempt at gaining eligibility in the state of Kentucky this season failed last week when a judge ruled that he cannot compete until March 5.
That date would be one year since he transferred from Adair County, but also would be after Marshall County’s regular season. The only way Harmon could play for the Marshals this season would be a trip to the Sweet Sixteen.
Last night, several reports came out that Harmon was planning to stay in school at Marshall County High School, but would compete with a private Christian school from Florida:
Zion Harmon apparently is going to play basketball at Marshall County this season after all.
No, he won’t be play for Marshall, but he’s going to play at Marshall County in the Big Baller Beatdown this weekend for Downey Christian, a private school in Florida that is not a sanctioned high school team and not part of the national high school federation.
Harmon, one of the nation’s top sophomores, transferred from Adair County — where he led the state in scoring last year — to Marshall in June. He had played his eighth-grade season at Bowling Green and helped the Purples win the state championship after moving from Tennessee to Kentucky.
Downey Christian plays in an event put together by LaVar Ball and The Grind Session this coming weekend at Marshall County High School. The Grind Session advertised Harmon as one of the star players to keep an eye on:
The Big Baller Beatdown schedule dropped. Top Players listed as well. Ticket link will be posted in morning. pic.twitter.com/jOS31DgesD
— The Grind Session (@thegrindsession) January 14, 2019
Here’s a closer look:
How can Zion Harmon play for Downey Christian and stay in school at Marshall County where he can play next year? Because Downey is private, non-sanctioned schoolhttps://t.co/TAk2qIxGJY pic.twitter.com/N4XuMlc2ff
— Vaughts' Views (@vaughtsviews) January 14, 2019
Now, Harmon’s father tells Jason Frakes that the reports are false and his son is not going to play for Downey Christian:
Mike Harmon said his son, Zion, is exploring options for the remainder of this high school basketball season but has not joined a prep school program in Florida, despite multiple reports to the contrary over the past 24 hours.
Zion Harmon, a talented sophomore point guard ruled ineligible to play at Marshall County High School this season, reportedly was set to join the Downey Christian School team from Orlando, Florida, while continuing to take classes at Marshall County.
Both Mike Harmon and Downey Christian coach Jamie Newman said on Monday that Zion Harmon is not a member of the Downey Christian program.
“It was a possibility, but when finding out the information we needed to find out, it’s not an option,” Mike Harmon told the Courier Journal on Monday. “We don’t want to do anything that’s going to jeopardize his eligibility in the state of Kentucky.”
