MSU basketball commit Melakih Cunningham heads to N.C. prep school

Another one of Indiana's top high school basketball players is off to prep school .

Melakih Cunningham, a 6-6 guard and Missouri State recruit, flew to North Carolina on Wednesday to start his senior year at Moravian Prep National in Hudson, North, Carolina, located about an hour northwest of Charlotte. Moravian Prep, led by four-star senior guard and South Carolina commit Eli Ellis, plays in the Overtime Elite League.

“I’m down here now,” Cunningham said Wednesday evening. “We already had practice. There’s really good talent level, almost like playing against college players already. I feel like this could be the best move for me in the long run.”

Cunningham was not looking to leave Indianapolis. He transferred from Decatur Central to Crispus Attucks after his junior season, but was granted limited eligibility when the sending school (Decatur Central) did not sign off on the transfer. Cunningham went through the initial appeal process through the Indiana High School Athletic Association ’s review committee, which upheld the initial decision of limited eligibility on Aug. 30.

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Cunningham, who averaged 14.9 points, 8.0 rebounds, 2.2 steals and 1.9 assists as a junior at Decatur Central, said he was disappointed by the ruling.

“I definitely feel like they should change the (transfer) rule,” he said. “They are just losing talent. But at that point, I just kind of put it behind me.”

Though Cunningham and his family could have taken the decision to the case review panel, which is run by the Indiana Department of Education, he said he and his family decided to move forward. As it stands now, he could have played on the junior varsity team with limited eligibility until March 11, which is 365 days from his last varsity game at Decatur Central. At that point, if Attucks’ season was still going, he would have full eligibility.

“We support him 100%,” Attucks coach Chris Hawkins said. “He’s been a great kid and he will be able to fulfill his dream (in college). Sometimes you have to make the best decision for you. He is still on board with Missouri State and their coaching staff is aware and on board with his decision. We’d love him to stay here, but know kids want to be able to play.”

In the past two years, several top in-state players have left IHSAA basketball programs for prep schools. Last year, Jalen Haralson transferred from Fishers to La Lumiere and Kanon Catchings left Brownsburg for Overtime Elite. Trent Sisley transferred from Heritage Hills to Montverde Academy this summer, followed by Valparaiso’s Jack Smiley joining Haralson at La Lumiere.

Cunningham committed to coach Cuonzo Martin and the Bears over Ball State, Miami of Ohio and Toledo in August.

Call Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 444-6649 .

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: MSU basketball commit Melakih Cunningham heads to N.C. prep school