Barnegat High School senior left-handed pitcher Jason Groome, the No. 1 overall prospect for June's Major League Baseball draft, has been ruled ineligible by the state's governing body for high school athletics for violating the state's transfer rule, NJ Advance Media has learned.

Barnegat must forfeit victories in which Groome played this season and his statistics over the past two weeks will be erased, including the 19 strikeouts he racked up during a no-hitter he threw against Central Regional Monday.

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Groome spent last season at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., before transferring back to Barnegat this year to finish his high school career playing with childhood friends. According to New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association bylaws, Groome’s move from the boarding school back to Barnegat did not constitute a bona fide change of address and Groome had to sit out 30 days or half of the season’s games before becoming eligible.

“The association’s rules clearly state that a student-athlete transferring from one secondary school to another must provide evidence of a bona fide change of residence as defined by NJSIAA rules,” NJSIAA spokesman Michael Cherenson said in a statement released to NJ Advance Media. “Otherwise, that student will be deemed ineligible to participate in interscholastic athletic competition for 30 calendar days or half of the maximum number of games allowed in that sport by NJSIAA rules. Further, if it is determined that an ineligible player participated in regular season games, those games must be forfeited. Neither ruling is open to appeal.”

According to NJSIAA bylaws, a bona fide change of residence occurs when “the parent/guardian moves with the student from one public high school district to another public high school district.” Moreover, the NJSIAA states that “guardian refers to that person who has control over the person and property of a child as established by the order of a court of competent jurisdiction.”

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At 6-foot-5 and 230 pounds, Groome throws a heat-seeking fastball that tops out at 97 mph, a knee-buckling curveball and a solid changeup. At just 17, he was named the No. 1 overall MLB draft prospect last month by Baseball America, turning Barnegat into the center of the baseball world. More than 150 baseball scouts and personnel came out to his first start of the season last week, including Phillies general manager Matt Klentak, whose team has the No. 1 selection in June’s draft.

Barnegat athletic director John Germano did not immediately return phone messages seeking comment.

Barnegat head coach Dan McCoy said via text message that Groome could return around April 24.

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"He is ineligible for 12 games or half our season,” McCoy said in a text. “His return depends if we play all our games. We need 12 games in and then Jay is good to go."

A veteran team with state championship aspirations, Barnegat is 3-2 on the season and 1-2 in games Groome did not pitch. The Bengals dropped from No. 4 to No. 10 in this week’s NJ.com Top 20 after losing to Donovan Catholic on Wednesday.

Groome's advisor, Jeff Randazzo, said it's "very sad there are people in this world trying to mess with a 17 year old kid."

"These rules are in place for athletic advantage and the kid came home to be with his friends and family and to the same school he’s always been at," Randazzo added. "I think there’s been some malicious intent with this. It’s sad."

Groome had been scheduled to start against No. 6 Red Bank Catholic Saturday night at Count Basie Park in Red Bank.

Now, the Bengals must turn elsewhere, and Groome's senior season under the spotlight will have to wait a little longer.

Matthew Stanmyre may be reached at mstanmyre@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattStanmyre.

Joe Zedalis may be reached at jzedalis@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JosephZedalis.