Duke Blue Devils senior big man Ryan Kelly underwent surgery to repair his injured right foot Tuesday and will be sidelined for roughly three months, Steve Wiseman of Durham-based The Herald-Sun reports. The news could have significant implications on Kelly’s status for the 2013 NBA Draft.
NBA draft 2013: Duke’s Ryan Kelly has foot surgery, impacting availability
Foot surgery will prevent Duke big man Ryan Kelly from participating in pre-draft workouts this spring.
Streeter Lecka
Having completed his NCAA eligibility this season with Duke, the next logical step for Kelly is to attempt a professional career, but he’ll have to begin it with a major obstacle. Recovery from surgery should prevent Kelly from working out for NBA teams this spring, a key development for a player with uncertain NBA prospects.
With the draft coming June 27, teams will begin to work out players soon in preparation for the big event. Being unable to boost his stock in these workouts will likely have an effect on his status.
In his senior season with Duke, Kelly battled foot injuries on multiple occasions, missing 13 games in total. He finished the season averaging 12.9 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.6 blocks per game. The big man also flashed a solid long range shot, hitting 42 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc.
Kelly is ranked No. 80 in the 2013 draft class by Draft Express, making him a fringe second-round pick. ESPN’s Chad Ford views him similarly, as he’s ranked No. 86 on that top 100 list.
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