Zion's father, Mike, told The Kentucky Prep Report on Monday that he and his son “will sit before an appeals committee and whichever way they rule, we will not complain.”
Mike Harmon also said the KHSAA is penalizing his son “because he has violated the accomplishment rule.”
You can read Mike Harmon's full comments below:
“First of all, we would like to thank
God and the great fans of the State of Kentucky for two wonderful
years. There are truly no fans like Kentucky Basketball Fans. Thank
you for your fan support and true love for the game. In the 2 years,
Zion have represented the State well, collecting a State Title as an
8th grader, made The 16u USA Basketball Team, collecting a Gold
Medal, 17u Nike Peach Jam Final Four. 9th Grade year, lead the State
in scoring, assist, free throw percentage. 1st Team All State and Max
Preps National Freshmen of the Year. He was the only player from the
State to play on the prestigious Nike 17u Circuit. (7th and 8th
grade). #1 Point Guard Ranking in the Country ESPN National Ranking.
I do not believe any player in the State has ever accomplished the
things that Zion has let alone in their 8th and 9th grade years. As a
freshman at Adair County High School, Zion had a great year
academically and athleticially, one he will remember forever. Zion
took six core classes as a freshman and finished his freshman year
with a 3.70 grade point average. I do not know if you can pack
anything else within a two year period. I say again, Zion has
represented the State well.
We will sit before an appeals committee and whichever way they rule (eligible or ineligible) we will not complain. We are grateful for all that God has allowed Zion to experience and accomplish in these two years. Zion has a plethora of opportunities available to him.
They say that we are being penalized for a transfer rule violation. I say they are penalizing Zion because he has violated the accomplishment rule. He has accomplished too much in two years and they have never seen anything like him in the state of Kentucky. Including his 7th grade year at Lighthouse Academy in Nashville, Zion has already surpassed over 2000 points at the varsity level. He is a threat to the record books in Kentucky and nationally.
People are uncomfortable and complain to the KHSAA. They have to try to find a way to slow him down. You are not supposed to be able to do what he has done. Especially as a 5’10” Guard. The Glory goes to God. GGP”
Mike Harmon told the Louisville Courier-Journal on Monday that his son was ruled ineligible because of the KHSAA’s Bylaw 6, which states all varsity athletes must sit out one year after transferring. The bylaw provides plenty of exceptions, the most common being “a bona fide change of residence” in which the athlete moves or a divorce by the athlete’s parents that leads to a change of residence. Bylaw 6 also states that the KHSAA may still require an athlete to sit out a year if “the change in schools is motivated in whole or part by a desire to participate in athletics at the new school.”
Marshall County is the fourth stop in four years for Zion Harmon. He enrolled at MCHS earlier this summer.
Harmon, a Bethesda, Maryland native, played at Adair County last season, where he averaged more than 30 points per game. He played at Bowling Green High School as an eighth-grader, helping lead the Purples to a state championship. He played as a seventh grader at a school in Tennessee.
Harmon, a 5'11" guard and five-star recruit, currently has offers to play college basketball at several big-time schools including Tennessee, Auburn, Creighton, Vanderbilt and SMU.
On the Net:
Kentucky Prep ReportLouisville Courier-Journal
