There is a very real possibility that high school basketball could be without one of its brightest stars this winter.

Deng Deng, the 6-foot-5 all-state shooting guard, who transferred to Cottonwood from Granger over the summer, has been denied eligibility to play this season, USHAA Executive Director Rob Cuff told the Tribune on Wednesday night.

Deng, a three-star national recruit, who is ganering Division I interest from several schools, was dismissed from Granger's basketball team in the off-season. He transferred to Cottonwood because he already lives within the boundaray of the school district. However, his application for eligibility was denied, because the UHSAA deemed his transfer athletically motivated.

"His application did not meet the criteria for eligibility," Cuff told the Tribune.

There is still a chance that Deng could play this season. He and his camp have appealed the decision, where Deng will go before a board and make a last ditch case to play. A date for this hasn't been set as of yet, and Cuff says the board won't hear Deng's case before the end of September.

"We first want to look at the cases of the kids who play fall sports," Cuff said. "And Deng plays a winter sport."

The Tribune has learned that the Cottonwood coaching staff, as well as coaches in the AAU community are upset with the initial decision, believing that the UHSAA is making an example of Deng, while other transfers such as Jaden Jackson's switch from Skyline to West Jordan have been approved.

Indeed, Deng is an interesting case, politically and otherwise. Earlier this summer Alex Austin, Deng's A-Train AAU head coach, made waves when he all but deemed state high school basketball irrelavant. His interview with the Tribune's Bill Oram drew the ire of many coaches around the state.

Athletically, Deng is a difference-maker. He's one of the best shooting guards in the state. He scores in a variety of ways, and he took Granger to the postseason last year. If he plays for Cottonwood this winter, the Colts have a shot at making the playoffs.

But, at least right now, it looks as if Deng may have played his final high school game.

Tony Jones