The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
UConn’s Gilbert likely done for season, headed for surgery
Redshirt freshman sidelined with another shoulder injury
For the second straight year, Alterique Gilbert’s season is over before New Year’s.
Gilbert, UConn’s talented redshirt freshman guard, will sit out the remainder of the 2017-18 season and likely undergo surgery in the coming weeks to repair damage to his left shoulder, according to the school.
Gilbert has already had surgery on his shoulder twice, including last December. The UConn medical staff, in conjunction with noted orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews, has determined that additional surgery would likely be best for him. Gilbert is expected to make a complete recovery and be ready to resume his college career in 2018-19.
“As we have said all along, we are going to listen to Alterique and do what is best for him and his family,” UConn coach Kevin Ollie said, in a statement. “If that includes surgery, then we will give him all the support he needs and welcome him back on the court next season. Meanwhile, he will have the chance to see the game from a different perspective. I know he will continue to be a great team leader — during practice, during games and off the court as well.”
If Gilbert opts for surgery again, his range of motion will likely be limited for the rest of his career. However, the likelihood of him suffering the same type of injury would be practically zero.
After playing in just the first three games of last season, Gilbert, a former McDonald’s All-American in high school, began this season healthy and eager to make up for lost time. He scored a career-high 16 points in UConn’s 71-63 win
over Oregon on Nov. 23, but in the following game against Michigan State, suffered a hard blow to his (non-shooting) shoulder early in the second half.
Gilbert tried to give it a go two days later in the Huskies’ PK80 Invitational finale against Arkansas, but the pain was obvious as he went 0-for-6 from the floor and played just 17 minutes. Gilbert hasn’t played since then.
Shoulder problems are nothing new to Gilbert. He dislocated his left shoulder twice while at Miller Grove High in Georgia, the latter time at the Jordan Brand Classic Game in Brooklyn, New York in April, 2016. Gilbert had surgery after the latter injury.
He arrived at UConn that summer and averaged 10.5 points in the Huskies’ first two games. But late in the first half of their third game at Loyola-Marymount, Gilbert turned the ball over and fell to the floor, writhing in pain. He had torn his labrum, and his freshman season was over before it had begun.
Gilbert, like all college players, has five years to play four seasons. He could apply for a second medical redshirt after his fifth year at UConn and would likely receive it.