CORAL GABLES, Fla. -- University of Miami men’s head basketball coach Jim Larrañaga announced on Wednesday that freshman guard Deandre Burnett will miss the season with a left wrist injury he sustained during Sunday’s practice.
“We don’t know how long it will take for the injury to heal, but as of this moment we are planning to redshirt him for the season,” Larrañaga said.
Burnett, who averaged 37 points, six rebounds and five assists per game his senior year at Miami Carol City High, drove to the basket when teammate Raphael Akpejiori took a charge, leaving his feet. Burnett ran into him, and when he came down to brace his fall he fell on his wrist.
X-rays were taken. According to Larrañaga, surgery has not yet been performed.
“Doctors will determine what the next steps will be, but we’re pretty certain that whatever the rehab is it’s going to take awhile,” Larrañaga said. “No plan in place yet for what he’s going to be and not be able to do for the next few months.
“It’s serious enough that he’s going to have to sit out the year.”
A 2012 Parade All-American, Burnett was one of only two players from the state of Florida and one of five Atlantic Coast Conference recruits to earn the honor. He was third in the nation in scoring as a high school senior. Burnett notched 45 points three times in his final prep season.
Larrañaga expected Burnett to provide a scoring threat off the bench for a team with just nine scholarship players remaining. The 6-2, 191-pounder did not play in last Wednesday’s exhibition against Florida Tech.
Burnett had broken his collarbone over the summer and missed time from July to September. He had been with the team for just a month before this latest injury.
“During that time it was very, very clear that he had earned the respect of his coaches and teammates (and) that he was going to be a major factor this year,” Larrañaga said.
