But the Hawai'i High School Athletic Association - which governs the state tournament - was not involved in the OIA's ruling against the Red Raiders.

If a lawsuit is filed against the OIA, a reversal of the ruling is not likely to succeed since due process appears to have been followed and league bylaws seem to have been applied. The statewide rule regarding fifth-year seniors is clear: an athlete is allowed to participate in only four consecutive school years once he or she first enters the ninth grade.

Kahuku school officials have self-determined through an investigation that the ineligible player in question did indeed enter the ninth grade in 2006, making him a fifth-year senior. The OIA principals' rules committee met for several hours Thursday reviewing the case before unanimously voting that the player is ineligible.

Kahuku filed an official appeal Friday morning before the entire principals council, but after over an hour of discussion, the appeal was denied.

In one of the most high-profile Hawai'i cases regarding eligibility, fifth-year senior twins Brad and Cord Anderson of 'Iolani had a request for court injunction filed on their behalf attempting to have the HHSAA allow them to participate in the 1998 basketball state tournament.

But the court denied the request, citing a lack of jurisdiction since it determined that the Andersons' civil rights were not being violated. In the court's opinion -- following similar rulings from across the country -- participation in high school sports is a privilege, not a right.

As a member of a league, a school or team is bound by that league's rules and bylaws.

New University of Hawai'i men's basketball coach Gib Arnold also challenged the HHSAA's rule banning fifth-year seniors during his senior season at Punahou in 1987, but the challenge was unsuccessful.