The Arizona Wildcats basketball team received some devastating news on Friday evening as freshman Ray Smith has suffered a torn ACL and will miss the 2015-16 season. Smith sustained the injury to his right knee during practice this week.
Head Coach Sean Miller realized this statement about the loss of Smith on Saturday morning:
“Ray Smith is one of the most talented young players that has ever entered our program. The news of his injury is incredibly disappointing on several levels. However, the togetherness of our program is one of our strengths. Our great fans, former and current players, our medical and coaching staffs along with Ray’s family look forward to the challenges of helping him reach all of his goals and dreams. His journey in getting to the top of the mountain might be different, but I have tremendous belief that he will get there with this type of support, his amazing determination to succeed and the love of the game of basketball that he possesses. Today, Ray Smith remains one of the most talented young players we have ever had at Arizona and that has not changed.”
Smith has now sustained ACL injuries in both knees in his young career. Coming in, he was regarded as one of the most coveted freshman in the country as part of Arizona’s incoming class which was being considered among the top on the nation.
The Wildcats begin their 2015-16 season at McKale Center on Friday, November 13th against Pacific.
