In a theme that was too familiar in 2018-19, the Miami basketball team will be shorthanded for it’s trip to Italy. The Hurricanes are expected to have nine scholarship players for it’s August trip to Italy.
The Miami basketball program is taking a quadrennial overseas trip to Italy from August 9-18. College basketball teams are allowed to take overseas trips once every four years. Sophomore Deng Gak and transfers Keith Stone from Florida and Nysier Brooks from Cincinnati are not expected to play in Italy.
Gak and Stone are recovering from knee injuries that sidelined them for significant portions of last season. Miami head coach Jim Larranaga, guards, senior D.J. Vasiljevic and junior Chris Lykes spoke to reporters on Wednesday ahead of the trip. Larranaga discussed the health of the team as part of a broader discussion.
Gak, Brooks and Stone not playing on the trip will allow the younger Miami basketball players to get more playing time. The freshmen triad of guards Isaiah Wong and Harlond Beverly and forward Anthony Walker will be key parts of the rotation on the four-game trip through the land of the Azzuri.
Gak has gently practiced with Miami coming off the knee injury that cost him all but eight games in 2018-19. Brooks and Stone are not practicing. Larranaga explained the time tables for the three players.
"“He’s making a lot of progress right now,” head coach Jim Larranaga said. “He’s been cleared to do things that don’t require a lot of contact so he can’t play in the scrimmage, but he can run the offense, but without a defense. He can do 1-on-1, but not 5-on-5.Our hopes is that he doesn’t have any setbacks because the injury that he sustained and the surgery he had, there is always the possibility of re-injuring it. It’s my understanding that the injury he had often times will repeat itself if not managed correctly. We’ve not been in any hurry.He’s worked very hard to rehab it and he is making progress. When he’ll be cleared to go 5-on-5 I would anticipate, certainly not before we leave for Italy and not while we’re in Italy, and we’re going to take some time off when we get back from Italy.So let’s hope by mid-September to late-September he’ll be given the clearance to go ahead and compete.”"
Getting Gak back in time for the season will be a huge boost for a Miami basketball roster that had only seven scholarship player for most of last season. He will be sorely needed on a frontline that will not have a lot of depth this season.
Gak is an athletic, slight 6’10, 211-pound center-forward that is an adept shot-blocker and rebounder. The Australian averaged 4.1 RPG and 1.1 BPG playing just 14.1 minutes per game last season. Stone is anticipated to miss the beginning of the season after tearing an ACL with Florida in January.
Stone is a Deerfield Beach native who is returning home after playing at Florida for three years. He is a versatile player at 6’8 253 pounds. Stone has a career 39.4 three-point field goal percentage. Larranaga discussed the time table for Stone’s return.
"“Keith Stone has not been cleared to practice yet and probably won’t be for several months because of knee surgery that he had back in January,”"
Brooks is a 6’11 240 pound center from Philadelphia. After playing at Cincinnati for three years, Brooks is sitting out this season. The Hurricanes have had success in Philadelphia in the past. Miami basketball alums Davon Reed and Ja’Quan Newton are from Philadelphia. Larranaga discussed Brooks injury.
"“We’re actually just being a little bit cautious with him because he has a knee condition that needs attention."
With Brooks, Stone and Gak not playing on the trip to Italy, redshirt juniors center Rodney Miller and forward Sam Waardenburg and Walker will split the minutes upfront. Miami is expected to go with a perimeter heavy lineup this season. Larranaga discussed their lack of depth in the frontcourt on Wednesday.