Hankins brothers win appeal, will play for Van Nuys on Friday

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Brothers Mat and Willie Hankins of Van Nuys learned Wednesday they had won their appeal from a three-member state CIF appeals panel, regaining their eligibility to play basketball this season for the Wolves, Athletic Director Terry Stoller said.

Mat, a senior who was an All-City guard as a sophomore at Sylmar, and Willie, a sophomore guard, transferred this season from Sylmar and were declared ineligible by City Section Commissioner Barbara Fiege based on a new state transfer rule that makes players who follow a former coach to their new school ineligible unless they can prove undue influence did not take place. Former Sylmar assistant Charles White was named coach at Van Nuys.

The appeal panel reversed Fiege’s decision, apparently deciding that Hankins’ father, Bill, provided enough evidence that there was no recruiting involved. The Hankins brothers will be eligible to take the court for Van Nuys’ next game on Friday against North Hollywood in a battle for first place in the Sunset Six League. Still pending is an appeal for teammate Victor Rudd.

Fiege said in an email statement: ‘I firmly believe I applied the rules as written. I have no problem with the decision of the appeal panel. This is the reason we have the appeal process, and I support that.’

The brothers should provide a big boost to a Wolves team that is considered a contender for the league championship. Van Nuys is 7-13 overall and 3-0 in league.

-- Eric Sondheimer