A bum foot may keep Duke’s Jahlil Okafor sidelined for Saturday’s contest against Clemson in Durham. The Blue Devils’ star freshman and National Player of the Year candidate injured his left foot during the squad’s 92-90 win over North Carolina earlier this week, and as a precaution, his sore wheel is in a boot. From ESPN:
Star Duke freshman center Jahlil Okafor will wear a protective boot on his left foot for precautionary measures and will continue to be evaluated ahead of Saturday’s game against Clemson, the Blue Devils said Thursday.
The walking boot will keep weight off the injury suffered during Wednesday night’s 92-90 overtime win over North Carolina in Durham, N.C.
The use of a boot has become common in college basketball to help protect foot injuries with players still able to play despite wearing them during shootarounds earlier in the day.
The arena went silent late in the first half when Okafor went down with an apparent left ankle injury after landing awkwardly on a hook shot.
Okafor, who finished with 12 points and 13 rebounds, briefly went into the hallway but was back on the floor with 45 seconds left before the break. He said he got the ankle retaped at halftime, and he played all 25 minutes in the second half and OT.
It was throbbing slightly after the win, but he wasn’t in pain.
