We're sorting through the audio from Tuesday's press availability with Jay Wright, Collin Gillespie, and Jermaine Samuels and looking at the best way to get all the good stuff out to you all, but I wanted to pause and get this bit of info out on its own awhile.
Samuels was asked if there was any injury issues that factored into his decision to return and he emphatically answered "no." When Wright spoke later, he took time to clarify something on that front. Wright noted that Samuels was being honest in that there was no injury that would have prevented him from going through the pre-draft process and so nothing on the injury front impacted Samuels' decision. However, Wright also revealed that Samuels played the whole season with a severely sprained finger and that now that Samuels knows he is returning to Nova and has some time before he'll be called upon for organized basketball activities, they are exploring the possibility of having surgery on the finger.
“Jermaine actually played the entire season with a severely sprained finger which he’s having evaluated," Wright said. "If he would have went through the pre-draft process he probably would not have gotten anything done to his finger, now he’s got the opportunity to have surgery on his finger. Now that he’s got the time he might get it done. We’re looking at that right now.”
There doesn't appear to be any reason to be alarmed by this revelation. First, Samuels was able to play through it all season and managed to be productive. Second, as Wright indicated, Samuels could have gone through the draft evaluation process without having anything done to his finger. And finally, even though he now has time, they haven't immediately settled on the idea of surgery. If they do elect to have a procedure done, there will be plenty of time for Samuels to heal.
The news makes Samuels' contributions this season (12 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 48.1% FG and 37.1% 3PTFG) all the more impressive. At this point, just be aware that surgery is a possibility, so don't be surprised or particularly alarmed if news of surgery for Samuels emerges.
Samuels was asked if there was any injury issues that factored into his decision to return and he emphatically answered "no." When Wright spoke later, he took time to clarify something on that front. Wright noted that Samuels was being honest in that there was no injury that would have prevented him from going through the pre-draft process and so nothing on the injury front impacted Samuels' decision. However, Wright also revealed that Samuels played the whole season with a severely sprained finger and that now that Samuels knows he is returning to Nova and has some time before he'll be called upon for organized basketball activities, they are exploring the possibility of having surgery on the finger.
“Jermaine actually played the entire season with a severely sprained finger which he’s having evaluated," Wright said. "If he would have went through the pre-draft process he probably would not have gotten anything done to his finger, now he’s got the opportunity to have surgery on his finger. Now that he’s got the time he might get it done. We’re looking at that right now.”
There doesn't appear to be any reason to be alarmed by this revelation. First, Samuels was able to play through it all season and managed to be productive. Second, as Wright indicated, Samuels could have gone through the draft evaluation process without having anything done to his finger. And finally, even though he now has time, they haven't immediately settled on the idea of surgery. If they do elect to have a procedure done, there will be plenty of time for Samuels to heal.
The news makes Samuels' contributions this season (12 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 48.1% FG and 37.1% 3PTFG) all the more impressive. At this point, just be aware that surgery is a possibility, so don't be surprised or particularly alarmed if news of surgery for Samuels emerges.