Arizona Basketball: Ray Smith retires from basketball after third ACL tear

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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After suffering a serious injury in Tuesday’s exhibition game, Ray Smith has retired from basketball.

Arizona Wildcats head coach Sean Miller feared the worst after the team’s exhibition against College of Idaho on Tuesday night.

And those fears become a reality on Thursday evening.

The program announced that Ray Smith, a former four-star recruit, suffered his third ACL tear in three years, and will miss the entire 2016-17 campaign. Smith later announced on his Twitter that he will be retiring from basketball due to the significant injuries.

Sean Miller also provided a statement on Smith.

In Tuesday’s exhibition outing, Smith injured his leg after coming off the bench. He had to depart to the locker room two separate times before he landed awkwardly on his right leg. Smith did not return to the game after the 12:39 mark as he was helped off the court.

This is heartbreaking news for a player that had so much potential, both at the college level and in the NBA. Smith was a four-star recruit and was ranked 29th in ESPN’s top 100 coming out of Las Vegas High School. In addition to Allonzo Trier and Justin Simon, Smith was one of the gem’s of Arizona’s loaded 2015 recruiting class.

The 6’8″, 220 pound long, athletic power forward would’ve given the Wildcats plenty of versatility on both ends of the floor. He was an excellent rebounder, ran the floor effectively, could slash from the wing and would occasionally stretch the defense.

As is evident by his statement, Smith is a mature person for his age. That might help him land a role within the Wildcats’ program while he finishes up his education at the university. This would give Smith the opportunity to stick around his teammates and watch Arizona’s ride through the Pac-12 up close.

It’s certainly not perfect given that Smith was supposed to have a major impact on the court in 2016-17 (and beyond), but it’s an environment that will uplift him through his recovery process and impactful life changing decision.

In terms of the Wildcats on the court this season, Arizona falling apart by the minute. Smith is done for the season, Trier has eligibility question marks and Chance Comanche is suspended indefinitely.

Miller will have to rely on five-star recruits Kobi Simmons and Rawle Alkins, and returnees Kadeem Allen and Parker Jackson-Cartwright in the backcourt, while Dusan Ristic and Lauri Markkanen anchor the team up front.

Smith will likely be replaced by JUCO transfer Keanu Pinder, who will be expected to grasp onto a larger role heading into the season.

The Wildcats have suddenly gone from a legit challenger to Oregon at the top of the Pac-12 and a potential sleeper Final Four program, to a team that may struggle to remain in the top-25 for the entire season. Miller is still in the fold, but his team is receiving the unlikely end of the draw.

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