NCAA Basketball: Injury Report (Is Miles Bridges close to a return?)
Xavian Stapleton inching closer to game action
Mississippi State is a young team searching for answers early in the 2016-17 season. They have nice pieces like Quinndary Weatherspoon, Aric Holmon and five emerging freshman, but they are currently 6-3, with losses to UCF, Lehigh and East Tennessee State.
With two tune-ups before SEC play tips-off to start the New Year, Mississippi State will ease another player, Xavian Stapleton, back into the lineup.
Mississippi State's Xavian Stapleton (knee) is aiming to return December 22nd against Morehead State, per Ben Howland.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) December 8, 2016
Obviously Stapleton is not going to turn Mississippi State into an SEC contender. However, he adds depth, talent and experience to a team that could show strides before the 2017-18 season.
Stapleton transferred over from Louisiana Tech following one season (2014-15) with the Bulldogs. As a freshman, he played in 36 games, averaging 15.5 minutes, 6.7 points, 2.1 rebounds and 0.6 blocks per game. He shot 41 percent from the field overall and hit 69 percent of his free throws, but he also only shot 29 percent from long range.
He opted to transfer to Miss State before the 2015-16 campaign and was obligated to sit out a year due to NCAA transfer rules. He was eligible to practice though, and unfortunately, tore his ACL in a pickup game in late August.
Seven months later (March), Stapleton tore the same ACL.
The most recent injury has cut into Stapleton’s eligible playing time. He has missed the first nine games of the season for the Bulldogs, and will likely need all the minutes he will receive in the next two games to prep for SEC play. It can’t be easy after sitting out two years and tearing two ACLs.