The United Faith Christian Academy boys' basketball team has been suspended from the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association playoffs for two years and put on two years probation because of a recruiting violation, United Faith headmaster Dr. Joe Siragusa said.

Siragusa met with the NCISAA Board of Directors on Tuesday and the ruling was handed down later that day, he said.

The violation stems from an email sent by Siragusa on Sept. 23 to what he said are guardians for the school's several international basketball players.

He said the email was sent after the school hired Muggsy Bogues to replace former boys' basketball coach Shaun Wiseman to "reassure everyone we will have a high quality program."

"I never would have thought ... that my email would have waded into the area of recruitment," Siragusa said.

In the email, he said he wanted to "assure you that, should you choose to continue to recommend our school to student athletes from around the world, we will continue to offer a strong academic program with extra support for non-English speaking students. Athletically, we will continue to play a rigorous schedule with high profile basketball games, and we will continue to attract high level college coaches to our gym."

Siragusa, a member of the NCISAA Board of Directors, said the NCISAA ruled that while no specific line violated the recruiting policy, the overall email violated the spirit and intent of the rule. NCISAA executive director Chuck Carter wouldn't speak specifically about the ruling, citing a 15-day period the NCISAA requires before speaking officially about a violation.

According to the NCISAA handbook, any school found in violation of its recruiting policy will be placed on probation and will be ineligible for the playoffs for one year.

Siragusa said it was his understanding that the harsher punishment for United Faith was because of earlier offenses, including an ineligible girls' basketball player in 2008 under former headmaster Pat Devaney and a suspension for Wiseman in the spring after an "emotional outburst" at a game last season.

Carter, speaking generally about the recruiting policy, said a one-year suspension was a suggestion.

"How we respond depends on the offense and any prior offenses," he said.

United Faith played in the past four NCISAA 1A championship games, winning titles in 2009 and 2010.

"They still will play a decent schedule," Siragusa said. "I feel terrible for the juniors and seniors who this directly affects."