Sophomore guard Prince Ali has undergone surgery to repair a torn meniscus and will be out four months, possibly missing the start of the season.
The UCLA Basketball team suffered their first injury heading into the start of the 2016-17 season as it has been reported that sophomore guard Prince Ali will be out four months due to a torn meniscus in his left knee.
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Ali has undergone surgery which is said to be a success, but that still leaves the Bruins without yet another player heading into the 2016-17 season.
After last season, Noah Allen decided to take his talents to Hawaii as a graduate transfer and just a few weeks ago freshman Kobe Paras withdrew from UCLA due to academic concerns.
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With a four month recovery timetable, that puts Ali’s return at around mid-November. The UCLA Basketball team gets this season started on Friday, November 11 at Pauley Pavilion against Pacific. UCLA has seven games before the month ends, which includes three games in the Wooden Legacy tournament.
Ali may be healed by this time, but he unfortunately will need more time to get back in shape. Hopefully he can return by the time Pac-12 play starts in late December/early January to add some much needed depth to the lineup.
With Ali out, that only leaves four scholarship guards on the roster: Lonzo Ball, Bryce Alford, Isaac Hamilton and Aaron Holiday. Once again, Head Coach Steve Alford will have to juggle a roster that is now thin in the back court. Seeing as Ball, Alford and Hamilton might start, that leaves Holiday as the only back-up guard.
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Hopefully the Bruins can balance out the minutes by moving a few big men over to the 3 spot. Either way, it is not ideal for UCLA. Hopefully Ali recovers quicker than expected because the Bruins are going to need him. Go Bruins!