Junior forward Cheyenne Moore is out indefinitely after suffering a stress fracture of his left tibia, GW head coach Karl Hobbs said.
Hobbs said that Moore tried to play through the pain, but it became unbearable.
“It’s a tremendous loss because we don’t have that much depth,” Hobbs said after Wednesday’s practice. “Now you’re not starting off at full strength.”
Moore has never suited up for GW and the loss will put additional strain on a team that already needs to replace stars Pops Mensah-Bonsu, Mike Hall, Omar Williams and Danilo (J.R.) Pinnock.
Hobbs said that the team, picked to finish fifth in the Atlantic 10’s preseason coaches and media poll, has been inconsistent in practice so far and that every player, especially the freshmen, will need to shoulder the load.
“Rob Diggs needs to have a big year, (junior Regis Koundjia) needs to put everything together and Damian Hollis needs to play better than he actually is,” Hobbs said.
Hobbs said he will need to rely heavily on freshmen to contribute to a team that was ranked sixth in the nation and made the second round of the NCAA Tournament last year.
“It’s going to be a challenge,” Hobbs said of using freshmen in important roles.
The team is still trying to determine the severity of the leg injury and does not have a timetable for Moore’s return, Hobbs said. It is too early to consider red-shirting the Baltimore native, Hobbs added.
In practice Wednesday, the 6-foot-5 Moore wore a weight-bearing boot during and did not fully participate. During the team’s shoot-around, Moore shot free throws and walked around without a noticeable limp except when jogging after a ball.
Moore, who transferred from Clemson after his freshman year and sat out last year due to NCAA’s transfer rules, was expected to start at small forward. Hobbs said he does not know who will start in his place.
“It’s going to be challenging because we lost five players, but at the same time that’s what’s great about college basketball: you get a chance to regroup with new guys and try to do it all over again,” Hobbs said.
Senior guard Carl Elliot said Moore’s experienced presence would be missed, but the team has other capable players.
“That’s the great thing about what Karl Hobbs has done, he’s brought in guys who can play,” Elliot said.
Moore, who averaged 6.6 points and 2.5 rebounds in 32 games as a freshman for Clemson in the 2004-05 season.
