Jalan West, the Northwestern State star who led the nation in assists in 2014-15 with 7.7 per game but tore his ACL in the closing moments of the Demons' 2015-16 opener against Ole Miss, is likely to miss the entire 2016-17 season after suffering another serious knee injury.
Northwestern State star Jalan West suffers 2nd major knee injury
The man who led the nation in assists two seasons ago is likely to be sidelined for a second straight year.
Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
The NCAA had granted West, who also averaged 20 points and 2.1 steals per game in 2014-15, a sixth year of eligibility to play in 2016-17. He had recently been cleared by doctors to begin practicing, and was hoping to play during the team’s upcoming exhibition tour in Canada.
That plan was ruined late last week when the 5’11 guard felt a pop in his right knee after coming down from a jump stop. An MRI revealed another tear in West’s ACL and meniscus in his right knee, along with some cartilage damage. That will require more surgery, and likely another season on the Northwestern State sidelines.
“It’s really hard to put in words how disappointed you are for Jalan because it’s just disheartening,” Northwestern State coach Mike McConathy said. “He’s extremely disappointed. No doubt about it.”
West voiced his own thoughts about the setback in a YouTube video posted on the NSU athletics account.
Life without West was unkind to Northwestern State last season, as the Demons finished 8-20, their worst performance since 2002-03.
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