Boys basketball: Rudd ruled eligible to join Van Nuys

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Before getting started, I’ve got to give my boy Sondheimer a shout out for doing some leg work on this one. He got confirmation from Van Nuys Athletic Director Terry Stoller tonight/Thursday that Victor Rudd, a transfer from Sylmar, is eligible to play for the Wolves following an appeal to the CIF office -- the same appeal granted to brothers Mat and Willie Hankins about a week ago.

After learning of this development, the first thing that came to my mind was: What’s going on over there at Sylmar and how does Coach Bort Escoto feel about the ruling? Of course, he made himself available for comment, saying, ‘There’s no hard feelings as far as I’m concerned. I’m glad the kids get to play. As for what happened, guess it will always be a mystery. We’ll have to read about it in the book.’’

The timing couldn’t be better for Van Nuys. Rudd will make his debut Friday against Verdugo Hills in a must-win game in Sunset Six League play. In fact, each of the five remaining regular-season games are must-wins for the Wolves if they have any aspirations of qualifying for the City Section Championship playoffs in mid-February.

‘Got to be honest, we’re excited to have Victor, Mat and Willie in the lineup. It changes everything,’’ said Van Nuys Coach Charles White, an assistant at Sylmar a season ago. ‘How things happened were unfortunate. But my relationship, and the kids relationship, with everyone over at Sylmar is good. Me and Bort still talk and confide in each other. I think everyone is ready to move on and play basketball.’’

-- Sean Ceglinsky