Gonzaga Forward Austin Daye has Torn ACL

Gonzaga forward Austin Daye, who averaged 10.5 points and 4.7 rebounds as a true freshman last year, was hoping to escape serious injury Tuesday night when he went down hard in a tangle of bodies at the LeBron James’ elite camp.

Daye was one of the feature college basketball stars at the LeBron James elite camp along with the other top 24 collegiate players in the country. “I had just passed the ball,” Daye said.

“I took a step forward and slipped and my left leg stayed straight and my right knee was bent. I went down and I heard a couple of noises. The trainers back there thought it was my hamstring.”

The doctors in Ohio thought Daye might have injured a tendon in his hamstring but unfortunately the MRI taken when he returned home to California showed he did not.

Daye is expected to have surgery in the next few days for a partially torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).

“I wasn’t too happy,” Daye said in a telephone interview after learning the MRI results Monday afternoon. “I was emotionally drained after hearing that” and rightfully so.
Daye’s status for the 2008-09 college basketball schedule is now undecided and won’t be known for some time.

Gonzaga basketball coach’s had planned on Daye playing a major role this year for the Bulldog who are ranked in the top 15 in multiple preseason polls.

“Hopefully I can come back this season,” Daye said. “I honestly don’t know the recovery time, but if there’s a chance to play and help the team I hope I can do that. At the same time, I don’t want to come back too soon and have something happen.”

During his first year at Gonzaga, Daye had won an honorable mention All-WCC and was selected to the WCC All-Freshmen Team. Before the fall, Daye had even been predicted to go as the No. 9 pick to Chicago in the 2009 NBA Draft.

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UPDATE: Thursday, 17 July 2008

Sigh of Relieve for Daye

Gonzaga fans can breathe again as it has been reported that Austin Daye was told by doctors at UCLA on Thursday, that he does not have a torn ACL but instead a bruised bone and a minimal tear that will not require surgery.

"I was really emotional," Daye said. "I just didn't want to miss so much time. We've got one of the best teams and schedules in the country. I wasn't expecting any of this when they first told me [in Akron] that it was my hamstring. Then the ACL came out of nowhere [from the first doctor in L.A.]. Then we met with two more doctors who gave me better news."