Pittsburgh Basketball: Crisshawn Clark out for entire 2016-17 season
Pittsburgh basketball will be without a role player for the entire 2016-17 season.
With the ACC featuring a legitimate 12 teams that could potentially reach the NCAA Tournament, the Pittsburgh Panthers can ill afford to lose bodies in the lead up to the start of the season on Friday.
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Unfortunately for new head coach Kevin Stallings, the Panthers, who are projected to be one of the last teams from the ACC to make the NCAA Tournament, are losing a valuable role player for the entire season.
Canada College transfer Crisshawn Clark will miss the 2016-17 campaign after he suffered a serious left knee injury during Monday’s practice. The sophomore guard will undergo surgery to repair ligament and meniscus damage.
“We are very disappointed to see this happen to a terrific young man and an emerging player in our program,” Stallings said via a press release. “Crisshawn has worked tirelessly to improve on and off the court. He is a true team player who has done everything asked of him since his arrival here. His mental strength and character will enable him to tackle the surgery and rehab with the same effort and intensity that he brings to practice.”
This isn’t Clark’s first go round with injury rehab and issues surrounding his left knee. Before arriving at Pittsburgh, Clark missed all of last season at Canada College due to a procedure on the same knee he hurt on Monday.
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Clark had a successful high school career in Ohio, but emerged late in the recruiting process and elected to go the junior college route for two years. In his freshman season at Canada College, the 6’4″, 210 pound guard averaged 15.0 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.0 assists, while helping his team reach the CCCAA state semifinals.
When making his Division I college decision, Clark chose the Panthers over schools like Oregon, Saint Mary’s and Nevada.
He was expected to give the Panthers extra depth and versatility at the wing positions in 2016-17. Clark has good size, length and toughness, which enables him to guard multiple perimeter players and finish around the rim on offense. Clark can score the basketball from beyond the three point line, but he would’ve likely had a more clear-cut role on the defensive end of the floor in his first year with Pitt.
While Pittsburgh has a lot of experience on their roster, the JUCO guard would’ve factored into the rotation as he continued to get back into game shape following last year’s injury.
The Panthers still have a solid rotation beyond their expected starting five. Sophomore guard Damon Wilson, junior 6’9″ forward Ryan Luther, talented freshman Justice Kithcart, redshirt junior big man Rozelle Nix and JUCO guard Jonathan Milligan will all factor into the mix.
Pittsburgh can get by without the presence of Clark this season, however, his promise and upside have to be looked at in a different manner. Dealing with two straight season ending injuries to the same knee is not an easy thing to deal with, so his future impact within the Pittsburgh program is certainly a question mark moving forward.