St. John’s Athletics
2026-27 Basketball Program
Notes about eligibility for 2026-27 seasoN
In 2021 St. John’s Athletics joined the Shenandoah Christian Conference (SCC), which introduced a different eligibility system from what SJA used in the past.
The SJA eligibility system was based solely on age, while the SCC system has emphasis on grade-level, with limits on maximum age. Read the detailed Shenandoah Christian Conference eligibility rules. Due to the large homeschool contingent at SJA, many kids are grade-advanced for their age, and these cases can be a complicating factor for registrations and eligibility. SJA will not force student athletes onto older team divisions based on grade alone (e.g., 12 y/o ninth graders will not be required to play high school). If parents of grade-advanced students want to use grade level as a determining factor in registrations, they may do so with an initial registration, however coaches may move them down to a team of age-similar peers if they are not deemed by their coach to be able to play at the upper level.
Following two principles should keep SJA on good terms with our SCC opponents:
SJA will not purposefully register advanced-skill student athletes to the limit of the SCC maximum age eligibility while they exceed “normal“ grade-level guidelines, simply to create a competitive advantage in the conference.
SJA will seek to place student athletes on teams that are appropriate to their stage of athletic development and within their natural peer group when possible.
Due to SJA’s relatively small size and sometimes inconsistent turnout, and the fact that we rely on volunteers for coaching, we are not always able to field a team in all divisions.
Simply try to follow the general guidelines for the registrations. Any potential for moves between teams to resolve eligibility and/or player level issues will be determined after initial registrations are completed based on circumstances.
VARSITY BOYS
Grade 8-12 (no player shall have turned 19 before Aug. 1)
Cost: $195
Coaches:
Head Coach: Jason Loughry
Assistant: Nathan Puray
Primary practice schedule (TBD once gym times are fully confirmed)
Day ??? @ Scholl name ???; start time - end time
Day ??? @ Scholl name ???; start time - end time
Varsity Boys are normally 10th - 12th grade even though conference eligibility extends down to 8th grade.
If under 10th grade or under 15 yrs old, or have never played JV basketball, do not register for Varsity unless the coach has already agreed to take the player on the Varsity team.
High school graduates will not be allowed to participate. Any athlete on a college team is not allowed to participate. Students may compete in only five years of varsity athletics. (Depending on the total number of registrants, the coaches may need to host tryouts and limit the number of players.)
HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS
Grade 8-12 (no player shall have turned 19 before Aug. 1)
Cost: $195
Coaches:
Head Coach: TBD
Assistants: TBD
Primary practice schedule (TBD once gym times are fully confirmed)
Day ??? @ Gym name ???; start time - end time
Day ??? @ Gym name ???; start time - end time
High School age girls are combined into one practice squad.
High School girls are normally 9th - 12th grade even though conference eligibility extends down to 8th grade.
8th graders register for MS unless the coach has already agreed to take them on the HS team.
High school graduates will not be allowed to participate. Any athlete on a college team is not allowed to participate. Students may compete in only five years of varsity athletics. (Depending on the total number of registrants, the coaches may need to host tryouts and limit the number of players.)
JV BOYS
Grade 7-11
Cost: $165
Coaches:
Head Coach: Harry McMahon
Assistant: Chip Hibl
Practice schedule (TBD once gym times are fully confirmed)
Day ??? @ Gym name ???; start time - end time
Day ??? @ Gym name ???; start time - end time
JV Boys are normally 9th - 11th grade even though conference eligibility extends down to 7th grade.
7th and 8th graders register for MS unless the coach has already agreed to take them on the JV team. (Depending on the total number of registrants, the coaches may need to host tryouts and limit the number of players.)
MS BOYS
Grade 5-8 (no player shall have turned 14 before Aug. 1)
Cost: $125
Coaches:
A Team Head Coach: TBD
A Team Assistant Coach: TBD
B Team Coach: TBD
B Team Assistant Coach: TBD
(NOTE: A and B teams may be created depending upon the number of MSB registrations)
Practice Schedule (TBD once gym times are fully confirmed)
Day ??? @ Gym name ???; start time - end time
Day ??? @ Gym name ???; start time - end time
NOTE: Ideally MS teams strive to have an “everybody plays” policy, therefore are capped at 12 uniformed team members to ensure a reasonable experience for all the players. Coaches have the discretion to determine the uniformed players for each game. (In some years, a high registration rate necessitates an “A” team and “B” team. The “A” team is more competitive while the “B” team is more of a “fundamentals” team. The “B” team may not have as many games as the “A” team.)
(Depending on the total number of registrants, the coaches may need to host tryouts and limit the number of players.)
MS GIRLS
Grade 5-8 (no player shall have turned 14 before Aug. 1)
Cost: $125
Coaches:
Head Coach: Anna Pegis
Assistant: Veronica Pegis
Practice Schedule (TBD once gym times are fully confirmed)
Day ??? @ Gym name ???; start time - end time
Day ??? @ Gym name ???; start time - end time
NOTE: Ideally MS teams strive to have an “everybody plays” policy, therefore are capped at 12 uniformed team members to ensure a reasonable experience for all the players. Coaches have the discretion to determine the uniformed players for each game. (In some years, a high registration rate necessitates an “A” team and “B” team. The “A” team is more competitive while the “B” team is more of a “fundamentals” team. The “B” team may not have as many games as the “A” team.)
(Depending on the total number of registrants, the coaches may need to host tryouts and limit the number of players.)
Developmental Basketball is on HOLD for 26-27.
(Unless gym times open up. Stay tuned.)
NOTES:
Coaches are appointed by Vince Criste, the SJA Athletic Director.