A Memphis judge issued a summary judgment in favor of the TSSAA regarding a coaching link policy that led the state's high school association to declare current University of Memphis basketball players James Wiseman and Ryan Boyce ineligible at East High during the 2017-18 school year.

Chancellor Jim Kyle ruled that the TSSAA did not violate the athletes' property rights and that a coaching link rule was not too vague.

The ruling on Oct. 3 gave the high school association a victory in a nearly two-year court battle regarding the eligibility of both athletes. The TSSAA ruled both ineligible for the 2017-18 basketball season. However, a court injunction granted by Kyle led to the court battle and allowed both to play that season.

The TSSAA ruled both players ineligible because they played for Team Penny, an AAU basketball program that Penny Hardaway began sponsoring in 2012. Hardaway was also East's basketball coach at the time. 

The TSSAA's coaching link rule makes athletes with an athletic record who transfer to a new school ineligible if an athletic coaching link existed during the previous 12 months. Those links may include: attendance at an individual camp and then transferring, playing on a non-school team and then transferring to that coach's school, transferring to a school where a former coach was hired or transferring to a school where a former or current personal trainer or strength and conditioning coach is employed.

The athlete is ruled ineligible for 12 months at the new school if a coaching link exists.

The TSSAA has yet to issue any punishment toward East High since the ruling. The Memphis school system has appealed the decision, issuing a motion to alter or amend Kyle's decision.

East finished 31-3 that season with Boyce and Wiseman on the team and won the Class AAA boys basketball championship.

This story will be updated.

Reach Tom Kreager at tkreager@gannett.com and on Twitter @Kreager.