Senior forward James Keefe injured his left shoulder on Tuesday night, which may cause him to miss an expected four to six weeks for rehabilitation.
Both the initial X-ray and a subsequent MRI came back negative, which was positive news for the UCLA men’s basketball team whose first practice of the season is just 10 days away.
“We are very relieved that the injury isn’t going to be a long-term one,” UCLA coach Ben Howland said in a statement. “Everything looks to be intact, and we are very happy for him and for the team.”
Keefe had previously undergone surgery on the same shoulder in August 2007 for a torn labrum, which caused him to miss the first 12 games of his sophomore season.
The senior averaged 3.0 points and 3.4 rebounds in 34 games last season and is one of just three upperclassmen expected to see regular playing time on a 2009 Bruin team that lost three senior starters from a year ago.
Keefe is not the only Bruin big man to deal with injury this offseason.
In June, forward Drew Gordon partially tore a patellar tendon in his right knee. Ultimately, the injury did not require surgery, and Gordon returned to the court soon afterward. However, it still sidelined the 6-foot-8-inch sophomore from participation in the USA Basketball Under-19 National Team over the summer.
Freshman forward Tyler Honeycutt’s summer workouts have taken a hit as well. Honeycutt suffered a sprain in his lower back in May during the Academic All-American Classic, an All-Star game for graduating high school seniors.
If the prognosis on Keefe’s injury is correct, he will have the opportunity to return days before UCLA officially starts its season on Nov. 16 against Cal State Fullerton at Pauley Pavilion.
Compiled by Eli Smukler, Bruin Sports senior staff.