Memphis East stars James Wiseman, Ryan Boyce can still play, but legal battle not over

The nation will get to see a full-strength East High basketball team Thursday night.

Chancellor Jim Kyle granted a temporary injunction on Wednesday that will allow Mustangs Ryan Boyce and James Wiseman to continue playing for the time being. The injunction supersedes a temporary restraining order issued by Kyle on Nov. 22 that allowed the two to play up to this point.

How long they'll be able to play is unknown. Kyle instructed attorneys for both Shelby County Schools and the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association to come to a scheduling agreement for further hearings on whether East violated the state's prior coaching link rule.

More:Chancellor grants temporary restraining order allowing 2 East High players back on the court

Boyce — who has signed with UAB — and Wiseman, who is ranked No. 1 nationally in the class of 2019 according to ESPN, will be on the court when East, ranked No. 1 nationally, takes on Webster Groves (Mo.) in a 7 p.m. game at White Station that will be broadcast on ESPN2.

“I’m just happy because the boys are still allowed to play," said East coach Penny Hardaway. "They get to play basketball and I'm happy for them. They're student-athletes and all they want to do is go to school and play basketball. That's it."

Boyce, who transferred to East from Houston for his senior season, and Wiseman, who transferred from  Ensworth, were ruled ineligible last month in an apparent violation of the TSSAA's prior link coaching rule. The TSSAA contends that the two should be ineligible after playing this summer for Team Penny, a summer team founded by the former Memphis Tiger and NBA star.

More:Shelby Schools sues TSSAA over ineligible East basketball players Ryan Boyce, James Wiseman

After East's appeal was denied by the TSSAA, Boyce and Wiseman were forced to sit out East's first three games. Shelby County Schools filed a lawsuit against the TSSAA, and Kyle's restraining order has allowed them to play in the five games since.

While Kyle did not hear specific evidence about the rule as it applies to East, he did state that he felt the TSSAA's language in writing the rule was "not clear."

He also said that the TSSAA's closed-door policy regarding appeals could "lead to suspicions that (the TSSAA) was not dealing in the public interest."

Rick Colbert, the TSSAA's lead attorney, argued that the closed-door policy was necessary when dealing with issues involving minors.

More:James Wiseman, Ryan Boyce sit out East season opener

"I'm happy with what happened today," said Arthur Horne, one of the attorneys representing the players. "My clients will be able to continue to play and pursue their educational and athletic pursuits and that's good for them."

Unlike the raucous reaction that greeted Kyle's ruling last month, response to Wednesday's decision was subdued. Members of the two-time defending Class AAA champion Mustangs as well as several supporters were in attendance.

Colbert declined comment other than to say, "this is the next step in the process. That's all there is to it."

Following the Webster Groves game, East heads to Fort Myers, Fla., next week to take on some of the nation's top high school competition in the City of Palms Tournament.

"They're such great kids," Hardaway said. "I'm sure it's been very stressful for the kids. I haven't really gotten into a deep conversation (with them) but if I was their age and I was them I'm sure it would be very stressful for me."

Reach John Varlas at john.varlas@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @johnvarlas