Alabama basketball freshman Juwan Gary suffers ACL injury
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Alabama basketball was dealt another preseason blow as freshman forward Juwan Gary suffered a torn ACL which will keep him out for the entirety of the upcoming season, BamaInsider has learned.
Alabama confirmed that Gary underwent successful surgery on his right knee Thursday morning and is expected to make a full recovery. The surgery was performed by Dr. Lyle Cain of Andrews Sports Medicine at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Birmingham, Ala.
"It's tough to see this happen to Juwan," head coach Nate Oats said in a statement issued by Alabama. "He's a terrific young man with a very bright future. Juwan will be surrounded by an incredible medical team that will assist him every step of his rehab process and we know he is going to come back ready to contribute for the 2020-21 season."
Gary, 6-foot-5, 215 pounds, is Alabama’s highest-rated recruit in this year’s class, coming in at No. 101 overall. The four-star prospect spent his first three high school seasons at Gray Collegiate Academy in Columbia before transferring to West Charlotte High School in Charlotte, N.C. for his senior year. During his junior season, he was named the 2018 2A Player of the Year by the South Carolina Basketball Coaches Association after averaging 20.5 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game.
“Juwan’s that combo forward that’s so valuable in today’s game,” Rivals national basketball analyst Corey Evans said over the summer. “He’s super tough-nosed. He’s improved as a skill-set kind of guy. He’s more about going and rebounding the ball, defending different spots, good energy giver. He’s that type of guy.”
Gary had been earning high praise from first-year head coach Nate Oats. The forward was one of the standouts during Alabama’s open practice last month, registering a pair of blocks in the workout.
“He’s just so athletic and his physicality gives him something,” Oats said at the time.
Gary’s injury comes after Alabama lost JUCO transfer James Rojas to an ACL injury last month. Rojas is also expected to miss all of next season.
Alabama will host an exhibition game against Georgia Tech on Oct. 27 before opening its season against Penn on Nov. 5 inside Coleman Coliseum.
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