High school basketball player cut from team reinstated after mom sues: Report

Hinsdale South (Illinois) parents file lawsuit against district claiming retaliation, first amendment rights violation

The student whose parents filed a lawsuit after he was cut from an Illinois high school basketball team has reportedly been reinstated on the team after his attorney filed an emergency motion with a northern Illinois district court. 

The Chicago Sun Times reported that Hinsdale South (Illinois) senior Brendan Savage was cut from the school's boys basketball team after starting in "probably every game" as a sophomore and junior, according to his mother.

Erin Savage alleges her son was cut out of retaliation for a complaint she filed with the Hinsdale Township School District board in May, alleging verbal abuse, humiliation and bullying by former coach Michael Moretti. 

The district ruled in June that it could not substantiate Savage's claims against the coach, the newspaper reports, but warned against retaliation.

Then a different coach — Michael Belcaster — cut Brendan Savage this 2023-24 season, the lawsuit claims.

The family is suing the Hindsale Township Board of Education, superintendent, the Hinsdale South principal, athletic director an superintendent of human resources, claiming their son's First Amendment rights have been violated.

Brendan Savage will be eligible to play against Downers Grove South (Illinois) on Friday, but the district hasn't guaranteed playing time, the Sun Times reports.

This is a developing story.

-- Andy Buhler | andy@scorebooklive.com | @sblivetx