Duncanville opts out of boys basketball postseason during 2022-23 season
The Duncanville boys basketball team, ranked No. 1 in the Class 6A preseason polls, will opt out of this season’s playoffs, the district announced on Friday.
Duncanville was stripped of its 6A state championship in March and placed on three years probation by the UIL on Oct. 31 for using an ineligible player, Anthony Black.
Head coach David Peavy was also suspended for the season.
“The family of the player sought and received six court orders from four different courts to allow him to keep playing. Duncanville ISD was not a party to the legal action, nor did it challenge the UIL’s earlier decision or take any legal action against the UIL. This was a legal dispute between a player, his family and the UIL. At all times, Duncanville ISD followed the court orders,” the district said in a statement shared via e-mail.
According to DISD and superintendent Marc Smith, the decision was announced “in the best interest of the students, student athletes, the boys basketball program, the district and community.”
Added Smith, “We believe the UIL has a better understanding of our situation and will not impose any additional penalties if we opt-out of post-season play this school year. Duncanville ISD respects the UIL, we are a proud member of the organization and all of us want to expedite decisions that prove our commitment to winning with honor by following UIL rules.”
Smith also stated that he is fully committed to working cooperatively and proactively with the UIL to enhance Duncanville ISD’s efforts to comply with all UIL rules.
The district reassigned Peavy along with athletic director Dwight Weaver and head girls basketball coach LaJeanna Howard on Thursday. Both Peavy and Howard were reassigned to fill vacancies within Duncanville ISD that are in alignment with their teaching certification areas.
Weaver was reassigned to serve as a campus administrator, filling an existing vacancy.
Kenya Larkin-Landers has been named interim athletic director.
The boys basketball regular season officially begins Friday. According to Duncanville’s Max Preps, the Panthers open the season on Saturday against San Antonio Brennan.
The Panthers also won state titles in 2019 and 2021 and were co-champs during the 2020 COVID year. They have the No. 1 player in Texas in 5-star power forward Ron Holland, a University of Texas commit.