Ike Butts update
Whether center Ike Butts of Appalachian State will play this season hasn’t been determined, according to Coach Jason Capel.
Butts, a 6-10, 285-pound senior who has career averages of 7.2 points and 7.1 rebounds, had surgery Aug. 13 to repair damage to his left knee sustained in a pickup basketball game.
“He is in the process of rehabbing right now,” Capel said. “We have explored the possibility of red-shirting him but we have not come to a complete decision yet, but it’s definitely a conversation we’re having.”
The best case for Butts for this coming season?
“He could be back in about 3 to 3½ months,” Capel said, which would put Butts back in action by December. But Capel said the decision will be put off as long as possible, to be sure if Butts is ready.
“Last year and he limped around quite a bit because of his other knee,” said Capel, referring to surgery that Butts had on his right knee last August after an injury in practice. “He wasn’t healthy at all last year. I don’t want to put that kid what he went through last year. I want him to be healthy. If he’s healthy, he’ll play. If he’s not, we’re going to make sure he gets healthy.”