The season is still months away, but the UCLA basketball team may have already suffered its first loss of the season.
Sophomore forward James Keefe will have surgery on his left shoulder Friday. Keefe, who played in all but four of the Bruins’ games last season, tore cartilage in his left shoulder playing summer basketball.
The former McDonald’s All-American could be out for four months as he rehabs the injury.
“I was really looking forward to my sophomore season, so this is a big disappointment for me," Keefe said. "Hopefully I’ll be able to recover quickly and be back at full strength by the time Pac-10 play starts.”
The Friday operation will aim to repair the torn labrum in Keefe’s left shoulder. UCLA team physician Dr. Sharon Hame will perform the surgery. The injury was originally discovered in a MR arthrogram on Tuesday.
Keefe, a Rancho Santa Margarita native, averaged almost four minutes per game last season as a freshman. He was touted as the star of UCLA’s 2006 recruiting class.
“Although this is a tough setback for him, I’m confident that he will handle it well and be ready to go in December,” coach Ben Howland said.
Keefe had his promising moments throughout his freshman year; he saw 10 minutes in the Sweet 16 against Pittsburgh and 15 minutes in the semifinal contest against Florida.
Howland was impressed with Keefe’s summer play.
“James had a great spring and summer, and I was very enthused with his improvement during the offseason,” Howland said.
For now, Keefe is out of the mix in the Bruins crowded front court. Senior Lorenzo Mata, junior Luc Richard Mbah a Moute and junior Alfred Aboya all return. Star newcomer Kevin Love will compete for a starting spot as well.
The Thursday announcement comes exactly four months before the Bruins’ first regular season game against Portland State on Nov. 9. That could give Keefe enough time to return to his summer form in time for conference play.