Injury forces UA's Walton to miss season - Foot problem same as dad's, The Arizona Daily Star, November 7, 1998
Author: Bruce Pascoe
Arizona lost another men's basketball player for the season yesterday, after an MRI test revealed an unexpected stress fracture in freshman Luke Walton's right foot.
Walton had been struggling with foot and ankle pain since last season at San Diego's University High School. But when things didn't improve despite rehabilitation, Walton underwent further testing that found the more serious injury.
Ironically, it was one of the same injuries that Walton's father, Bill, was plagued with as a professional basketball player.
``It was the same set of bones and everything,'' Luke Walton said. ``(My dad) just told me to accept it. He said it would be hard to accept, but that the sooner I do, the sooner I could get back on track and do what I need to do.''
Walton's foot will be placed in a hard cast on Monday and, four weeks later, he is scheduled to begin wearing a soft cast for another four weeks. He will then need at least three or four weeks to return to full form, meaning he will almost certainly miss the season.
As a result, UA coach Lute Olson said sophomore Justin Wessel will definitely land in the regular rotation, playing both small and power forward. Freshman Rick Anderson, who has played mostly at small forward, now appears less likely to redshirt, although Olson said he has not yet made a final decision.
``The worst part of it is that it's one less guy we have in a practice situation,'' said Olson, who has only 10 scholarship players left after center Donnell Harris was dismissed last month and guard Quynn Tebbs quit earlier this week.
Arizona has actually missed Walton's presence several times during the first three weeks of official practices. Shortly after arriving on campus last summer, Walton's problems began when he re-sprained his right ankle.
Once Walton's ankle healed, an old injury was discovered where his right foot and toes meet. Walton then rehabbed that injury and was fitted for an protective orthopedic device, which he has worn for the past few weeks.
``I never thought I was going to redshirt,'' Walton said. ``I figured it was going to get better one of these days and I could start playing again.''
But when Walton continued to feel pain, UA doctor Jon Nisbet ordered an MRI, which ultimately uncovered the stress fracture. UA trainer Ed Orr said it is unclear how long Walton has had the stress fracture.
``At least we know what it is,'' Orr said.
Fortunately for Walton, life isn't too bad outside basketball. Bill Walton, who attended Thursday's Pac-10 media day because of his broadcasting work, said Luke has told him how much fun he's having academically and with his teammates, including roommate Richard Jefferson.
``As a parent, I just could not be happier with the progress that young Luke Walton is making,'' said Bill Walton, who also has basketball-playing sons at Cal-Poly Pomona and Princeton. ``The opportunity to be a part of something really special, of what Lute Olson is building there, is something that makes a dad really, really proud. You don't get a lot of chances to be a part of something special.''
NOTES: Olson said yesterday he has not yet decided on a starting lineup for tomorrow's exhibition with a Lithuanian club team. He mixed in different trios with starters A.J. Bramlett and Jason Terry yesterday: Wessel, forward Gene Edgerson and guard Traves Wilson in one; guard Ruben Douglas, Jefferson and forward Michael Wright in the other. . . . Olson said he probably won't play Anderson in tomorrow's exhibition to keep him eligible for a redshirt year. ``We want to make sure he's going to g et enough playing time to warrant (losing a redshirt year),'' Olson said. . . . Tebbs' departure means a scholarship will be freed up for spring semester, but Olson declined to say which player will receive it. . . . UA players will work with Special Olympians today at 12:30 p.m. after their practice.