HUNTINGTON -- Huntington St. Joseph's boys basketball is being forced to forfeit its first four wins of the season after losing an appeal concerning an eligibility issue with one of its players, according to athletic director Shannon Lewis.

The issue centers around Irish forward Nate Hedrick, who started the year at Spring Valley but transferred to Huntington St. Joe after basketball practice had begun.

Lewis said that it was not due to the late transfer to the school; instead, it had to do with unfinished paperwork concerning residency.

"Initially, we were told right after the first four games -- around the 20th or 21st of Decemeber -- that he was ineligible due to a residency issue, so he sat out of the Teays Valley Christian game," Lewis said. "After they got the paperwork done, he was ruled eligible again on the 22nd."

Huntington St. Joe appealed the initial ruling of ineligibility, but found out from the WVSSAC on Jan. 29 that the ruling was upheld, meaning that the Irish forfeited each of its first four games -- all wins over Cross Lanes Christian, Oak Hill (Ohio), East Fairmont and Buffalo Putnam.

"We appealed it and lost the appeal on the Friday during the St. Joe Invitational girls tournament," Lewis said. "Our principal sent a letter out to the schools we played this past week, letting them know that we had to forfeit those games."

The Irish started out the season by winning their first seven games played, but the ruling means that Huntington St. Joe's record now stands at 7-7.

The team returns to action on Tuesday at Fairland.

COLEMAN TO LOUISVILLE: All of Rick Pitino's trips to watch Huntington Prep in action are starting to pay off.

On Friday, Huntington Prep coach Rob Fulford said that Justin Coleman has verbally committed to play for the University of Louisville.

Coleman is considered a five-star recruit by recruiting services and was listed as the No. 4 small forward in the Class of 2010 by Scout.com heading into this year.

Coleman chose Louisville over offers from Arkansas, Kentucky, South Florida and Providence.

Pitino and assistant coach Walter McCarty have frequented Huntington Prep games this year while also courting Gorgui Dieng, the Express' 6-11 center.

Dieng, who could make an announcement in the near future, is expected to choose between Louisville or Marshall.

BASKETBALL POSTSEASON: This week, sectional seedings in both West Virginia and Ohio are expected to be finalized.

As postseason matchups and locations become finalized, it is requested that athletic directors and coaches from the area send their pairings via E-mail to hedge@herald-dispatch.com or fax to 304-526-2857.

Grant Traylor covers Marshall University and prep sports for The Herald-Dispatch. He can be reached at (304) 526-2759 or E-mail him at gtraylor@herald- dispatch.com

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