Ky. brothers who transferred over racial bullying ruled eligible — for a different reason

After sitting out all season waiting for a Kentucky High School Athletic Association transfer ruling, brothers Camdon and Calen Higgins were to compete Friday in Western Hills High School’s homecoming football game.

KHSAA Commissioner Julian Tackett on Thursday ruled them eligible to play this week after the pair were forced to miss the Wolverines’ first seven games this season.

However, Tackett did not grant eligibility for the reason the brothers requested a transfer from Anderson County High School to Western Hills and was later cited by a KHSAA hearing officer as the reason for approval — racial bullying.

Tackett cleared the players’ transfer on the basis of a bonafide address change because the brothers moved from Anderson County to Franklin County, his ruling said.

Tackett said in the ruling that a significant incident of racial bullying took place at Anderson County in December 2021 that was acknowledged by all parties, but the family chose not to report the other alleged incidents. The transfer did not take place until April 2023. The significant delay in transferring and not having the other racial bullying incidents reported “prevents the conclusion that the exception regarding bullying has been met,” his ruling said.

Western Hills Athletic Director Adam Johnson said Friday, “It’s our homecoming tonight and we play North Oldham at 7:30. Both boys will be playing.”

“We are happy to have this process behind us and are thrilled to watch Cam and Calen do their thing here at Western Hills. We are proud to have them as a part of our school community and cannot wait to see what they can accomplish. The sky is the limit for both of these young men,” Johnson said.

As a sophomore in 2022, Cam Higgins played in eight of 11 games and led Anderson County in rushing with 866 yards and 11 touchdowns and receiving with 177 yards and one TD. He also recorded 14 tackles. The Bearcats went 2-9 last season.

Calen Higgins played in 10 of 11 games and recorded nine tackles.

The brothers join a Western Hills team that was 4-3 heading into Friday night’s game.

The KHSAA transfer rule requires a player to wait a year to participate if they played varsity in that sport in the previous year (after the student enrolled in the ninth grade at the former school). There are several “exceptions” set forth in the bylaw that could waive the period of ineligibility. Examples of some of the exceptions include a bonafide change in address, divorce, and change of custody, KHSAA general counsel Chad Collins, said earlier.

According to the rule, there is also an anti-bullying exception. The origin school, referred to as the “sending school,” has no power to hold up a transfer. The process requires both the sending school and the “receiving school” to submit information when a student is requesting a waiver. A ruling officer then reviews the request and potentially asks for further information from the family or schools. Afterward, the ruling officer makes an initial ruling based on all the information gathered and the provisions set forth in the bylaw.

Then, the Commissioner rules.