Seton Hall senior guard Jeremy Hazell has been cleared to play in tonight’s Big East game at DePaul (9 p.m., SNY), according to multiple sources with knowledge of the situation.
The school has yet to make an official announcement as to whether he will play, but one source said the 6-foot-5 Hazell was doing “form shooting” during the team’s shootaround Wednesday.
Several other sources said Hazell was definitely going to play for Seton Hall (7-9, 1-3 Big East).
Hazell hasn’t played since breaking his left wrist Nov. 19 in a win over Alabama in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
He also suffered a flesh wound after being shot during a botched armed robbery in Harlem on Christmas Day.
A preseason All-Big East first team, Hazell is averaging 24 points per game.
After seeing the hand specialist at least once earlier this week, Hazell could have opted to A) take a medical redshirt and come back next season to pursue Terry Dehere’s program scoring record; B) return immediately and play now; or C) sit out the remainder of the season and then go pro.
“If he’s cleared and he wants to play he’ll be in the starting lineup Wednesday [at DePaul],” Pirates coach Kevin Willard said after Saturday’s loss to Syracuse. “If he’s cleared and wants to redshirt and come back and break the scoring record, then that’s what we’ll do.
“He might not be cleared. The doctor said 8-12 weeks. It’s only gonna be eight. If the bone’s not fused, then the doctor could make that decision for us.”
Added junior point guard Jordan Theodore: “We’re really hoping and praying we get him back.”
Jerseyshore Pirate / January 12, 2011
Been waiting for this news for a few days now. Maybe now they can put together a run now they have someone capable of scoring from all over.
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