PIAA cracks down on Imhotep Charter, other boys basketball powers

By Mike Drago Last updated Jun 25, 2024

Imhotep Charter's Justin Edwards dunks against Exeter in the PIAA Class 5A championship game in 2023. (Jeremy Drey Photography)

There will be, at most, one repeat champion in PIAA boys basketball next season.

Five reigning champions, including Imhotep Charter and Lincoln Park, will be moving up at least one classification due to the PIAA Competition Formula, according to a report released Thursday by Pennsylvania’s high school athletics governing body.

The only reigning champ unaffected is Central York, which won the Class 6A title. The PIAA’s Competition Formula does not affect schools in the largest classification, a point of contention among critics of the rule, which was adopted in 2018.

All told, 17 winter sports programs will move up at least one classification: 13 boys basketball teams, three girls basketball teams, and one wrestling team.

Imhotep Charter, which beat Franklin Regional 59-48 for the Class 5A title in March, will be moving to 6A. Imhotep, led by Kentucky recruit Justin Edwards, clobbered Exeter in the 2023 championship game; it also beat New Castle for the 2022 championship. Imhotep did not take part in the 2021 tournament due to complications in place following the coronavirus outbreak.

Lincoln Park, which has won the last two Class 4A titles, will play in 5A.

Devon Prep, the 3A champ, will play in 4A for the next two seasons. Devon reached the quarterfinals in 2023.

Aliquippa, which beat Holy Cross 74-52 for the Class 2A championship, will play at the 3A level. The Quips reached the championship game in 2023, losing to Lancaster Mennonite.

Imani Christian, which has won the last two Class 1A titles, has opted to move all the way to 6A; it was slated to move to 2A due to the success formula.

Reading High’s Yadiel Cruz scores against Central York in PIAA semifinals in March. (PhilMarPhoto)

Three District 3 programs will be affected: The Mennonite boys, who move up to 3A; the Linville Hill boys, who move up to 2A after reaching the semifinals the last two years; and the Lancaster Catholic girls, who move to 4A after winning the 3A title this year and reaching the semifinals last year.

To move up a classification under the Competition Formula a school must earn six success points over a two-year cycle and have one or more athletic transfers. Schools earn success points by advancing winning games in the state tournament.

No Berks winter programs are affected by the changes. Wyomissing’s football program was moved up to 4A for the next two seasons after the PIAA rejected its appeal in January.

The other boys basketball programs affected: Archbishop Ryan, moving to 6A; Berlin Brothersvalley, moving to 2A; Deer Lakes, moving to 4A; Holy Cross, moving to 3A; and Math, Civics & Sciences, moving to 4A.

The other girls programs affected: Greensburg Central Catholic, to 3A; and Westmont Hilltop, moving to 4A.

Notre Dame Green Pond is the only wrestling program affected; it moves to 3A.

This is the third two-year cycle for which the Competition Formula has been in effect. Initially it affected just football and basketball programs; in 2023 the Board of Directors expanded it to include all 17 team sports governed by the PIAA.