MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Suspended prep basketball player Maori Davenport addressed Alabama’s Republican and Democratic caucuses Tuesday about her situation and several lawmakers have urged state high school officials to reinstate her.
Davenport, a senior at Charles Henderson High School in Troy, Alabama has been ruled ineligible by state high school officials after receiving an $857.20 check from USA Basketball, which has been repaid.
The 6-foot-4 Davenport told The Associated Press while she and her parents visited the Alabama Statehouse that she doesn’t believe she did anything wrong.
“I hope to play again this year, but if I don’t get to play again, I just want them to help this not happen to any other student-athlete in Alabama,” said Davenport, who has signed to play college basketball at Rutgers.
USA Basketball gave Davenport the check for “lost wages” after she played for the team in a tournament last summer, inadvertently running afoul of the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s amateur rule.
She has received an outpouring of support from around the country, including from Golden State Warriors center Demarcus Cousins and Rutgers coach Vivian Stringer.
“It just makes me feel like the world has my back in this situation, so I’m not wrong,” Davenport said.