Eligibility Ruling May Keep Lakes' Nate Guy From Playing Hoops This Season

Capturing a second 3A state title may prove much harder for the Lakes boys basketball team.

The Lancers won their first-ever state title last season with a 71-56 victory against Bellevue at the Tacoma Dome on March 6. In that game, three players put up double digits, including Nate Guy, who scored a team-high 22 points on 6-for-15 shooting, including three 3s and 12 rebounds. He averaged 13 points in the four-game tournament.

The versatile 6-foot 6-inch player is in the middle of a Washington Interscholastic Activities Association eligibility dispute. Lakes head coach Jojo Rodriguez thought the eligibility hearing was a slam dunk and that he would rejoin the team.

Lakes has started off slow this year, and Guy—a fifth-year senior—has not suited up or played a single minute. There's a chance he won't play this year.

The Lancers have slipped in the state rankings with a 3-5 overall record, albeit with one of Pierce County's toughest non-league schedules. They most recently fell to No. 4 Lincoln 62-49 in The Tournament of Champions Holiday Classic at Franklin High School in Seattle on Thursday.

Now, Rodriguez is unsure if Guy will even play this year. He and the team wait for a final ruling from the WIAA Board of Eligiblity. Rodriguez said the WIAA is claiming that Guy didn't do enough to receive credits that would have allowed him to graduate sooner.

Guy's defense, according to Rodriguez, is that he didn't have the money to go to summer school or take the courses online.

The Lancers have been forced to learn how to play without Guy. Rodriguez added that not knowing if Guy will play is affecting the team.

"We would like to get it over with one way or the other," he said. "Then we'll know what we're going to do and just move on."

The Lancers open South Puget Sound League 3A action on the road against Enumclaw. Check back with Patch for coverage of Guy's eligibility ruling.