Demps needs surgery
Northwestern incoming freshman point guard Tre Demps seems to be the latest victim of the Wildcats' string of bad luck with injuries.
Demps, a potential starter for the Wildcats this season, posted on his Facebook page on Friday night that he would need surgery for an undisclosed injury and would miss six months.
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The Chicago Tribune's Teddy Greenstein has since reported that Demps suffered a shoulder injury while playing with NBA players on Wednesday. The diagnosis was ligament damage, but Demps will get a second opinion from an orthopedist Monday in New Orleans.
"We might have an option of rehabbing and then having surgery at the end of the year," he told the Tribune.
The 6-foot-2, 195-pounder from San Antonio (Texas) Ronald Reagan was a Texas Association of Basketball Coaches 5A all-state selection last season after leading the Rattlers to a 30-6 record with an average of 16.5 points, 4.5 assists and 3.5 rebounds per game.
The Wildcats' basketball team has been beset by crucial injuries at inopportune times the last couple seasons.
Leading scorer and rebounder Kevin Coble was lost for the 2009-10 season when he suffered a foot injury in practice leading up to the opener. Then, senior Jeff Ryan tore his ACL in the season opener and was also sidelined for the year.
That team was hoping to become the first Northwestern team to make the NCAA Tournament. The Wildcats weren't able to achieve their goal without Coble and Ryan but still won 20 games.
Last season, leading scorer John Shurna suffered a high ankle sprain in a December non-conference game and was never the same afterward.
Demps was thought to be the favorite to claim the starting point guard job this season after the graduation of four-year starter Michael Thompson. He and fellow incoming freshman David Sobolewski were battling for the position.
Demps is reported to be upbeat despite the injury.
"I'm not tripping have faith in god he has the perfect plan," he wrote on Facebook. "I don't need a pity party. More than just a basketball player."
Log on to WildcatReport for more on Demps' status.