Tayshaun (Rue) Wells is a senior at Liberty High School that transferred from Springfield Central last year to live with his legal guardian Steve Mortimer, who resides in the Liberty School District.  He has been at Liberty the entire year, participated in Varsity football and is now blocked from playing Varsity basketball (only allowed to play JV level basketball) by the Missouri State High School Athletic Association (MSHSAA). Both member schools, Liberty and Springfield Central principals have written letters of recommendation for Rue to participate in Varsity basketball at Liberty High School. 

We have navigated the entire appeals process only to be blocked by MSHSAA at eventually losing our last appeal 5-4 with the MSHSAA Board of Directors. This story was documented very well by Matt Flener with KMBC 9 News in Kansas City. 

There is no one that has looked at this kids story and the details that believe he isn't in a better situation and this was NOT a sports related move. Both schools and everyone involved agree this was NOT a sports related move, but MSHSAA is still blocking this young man from not only his dream of playing his senior year, but also financially hurting him from potentially getting seen and getting college scholarships to play basketball at the next level. With the transfer portal and all the uncertainty of college sports, it is harder than ever to get high school kids recruited and especially if you can't be seen. 

Our plea is for everyone to sign this petition, MSHSAA executive director, Jennifer Rukstad made the statement that only local people are angry about this decision. We want to show this is a statewide Missouri thing to hopefully get the attention of someone that can help us block this injustice to Rue. 

If you feel compelled to learn more about the story or think we have justification in the cause, please help in anyway possible.  Rue is a great young man with a very bright future. Many tell us he is in a better place, but what most don't see is the mental anguish this has caused him. We tried to block this in court, but since MSHSAA didn't acknowledge the legal guardianship and consider this a full family move, the judge couldn't legally change it, even though in his statement he made sure to mention, "he did not agree with MSHSAA on the hardship". 

Please help Rue get the justice he deserves. The clock is ticking with 1/4 of the season already gone, time is of the essence.