BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Lehigh senior guard C.J. McCollum will be out an estimated 8-10 weeks with a fracture of his fifth metatarsal in his left foot, as confirmed through an X-ray on Sunday. McCollum injured the foot with approximately 5:37 remaining in the first half of Saturday’s game at VCU and did not return. The estimated recovery time means there is a possibility that McCollum could return for the final game of the regular season or Patriot League Tournament, however that possibility will depend entirely on his healing process.
“We are going to make sure C.J. is fully recovered and will place the highest priority on quality of care,” said Lehigh head coach Brett Reed. “We’ll be certain the injury has healed properly before full activity is resumed. C.J. is a wonderful leader and he’ll continue to help the team in every way possible. He has a bright future of basketball ahead of him.”
McCollum missed his first career game on Dec. 20 at North Texas with an ankle injury, unrelated to this foot injury. The Mountain Hawks beat the Mean Green 90-75 behind 28 points from senior Gabe Knutson and a career-high 25 from junior Mackey McKnight.
A projected first round pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, ESPN’s Fran Fraschilla tweeted on Sunday he’d “be stunned if this injury affects draft status. Teams know his game.” There were over 30 NBA scouts at Saturday’s VCU game, 58 for North Texas, 18 for the season opener at Baylor and 20 at Pittsburgh as NBA executives have come out in full force to see McCollum.
“The VCU and North Texas games are indicative of a Lehigh team that is multiple parts as part of the sum total,” said Reed. “We have a number of talented players who complement each other. We will continue to progress with the tenants and principals of this program and continue to move forward through our Patriot League schedule.”
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