The Long Beach State men’s basketball team is continuing to heal after an off-season riddled with injuries that ranged from minor dings to unexpected losses.
Four of the 17 players listed on the 49ers’ roster have dealt with a multitude of ailments over the summer. The key injury to LBSU’s off-season was to Big West Conference Freshman of the Year, Larry Anderson.
Anderson, who averaged 10.8 points per game and garnered conference first-team honors, required surgery on his shooting hand (his right) to repair a torn ligament.
Anderson had his cast removed last week, but head coach Dan Monson fully expects him to be ready for the start of official practice in October.
“We’re hopeful to have him back by the first practice,” Monson said. “He had been working very hard on his jump shot in the off-season, and I worry that he hasn’t taken a jumper now for six weeks.”
Senior forward Arturas Lazdauskas is also recovering from a hand injury, but his timetable is less defined than that of Anderson. The 6-foot-7 forward broke a bone in his hand, and a possible return in time for the start of official practice is up in the air.
“I think he’s 50-50 for the first practice,” Monson said. “A projected back date for him is around Oct. 15. I don’t know that he’ll be full speed by the first practice, but he should be full speed by the first game.”
Lazdauskas, who averaged 2.3 ppg last season, mainly came off the bench for the 49ers to spell T.J. Robinson at the power forward position. His experience could help The Beach though, as he is only one of four seniors on the LBSU roster.
The faces of the other two injured 49ers might not be as familiar as Anderson and Lazdauskas, and it might be a while before they actually get a chance to take to the Walter Pyramid floor.
Tristan Wilson, a transfer from Yuba College, was expected to have an immediate impact in the 49ers back court this season. The 6-foot-5 guard underwent microfracture surgery two weeks ago and is expected to be out until at least Jan. 1.
Monson said Wilson’s absence “is going to be a big blow for us,” because of the physical presence he could have provided LBSU on the perimeter.
“We brought him in from junior college to make a difference,” Monson said. “He was our best rebounding wing and he was probably our strongest wing. It’s a man’s game now and he’s a man, so we’re gonna miss that.
“There’s no other way to put it, we were very disappointed for him and for our team that it was worse than we expected it to be when he went in.”
Wilson averaged 18.8 ppg and 6.3 rebounds per game in his freshman season at Yuba. Monson still believes that Wilson can play a significant role this year even though he will miss a large portion of the 2009-10 season.
Jules Montgomery is also recovering from knee surgery that was needed to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) earlier this year. Monson said he believes the 6-foot-9 freshman could be cleared to play by November.
The injuries to the four players — and uncertainty of the health of Brandon Nevens — led Monson to add depth to the roster in the form of walk-ons Jerramy King and Sean Starkey.
“We have five out,” Monson said. “The four we mentioned and Brandon Nevens, who is still not cleared to play. If we were to start practice today, we would be practicing with 12 guys.”