After ‘home run’ surgery, Justin Minaya inches closer to possible return for USC
South Carolina might get Justin Minaya back this season after all.
Speaking at the Gamecocks’ annual “Legends” event Friday at Colonial Life Arena, USC coach Frank Martin said Minaya’s thumb surgery was a “home run” and there’s a chance he could return next month.
“We’re looking at some time early March,” Martin said of a return for his starting swingman. “There’s a possibility he could play this year.”
The Gamecocks have two regular season games in March before the SEC Tournament begins March 11 in Nashville.
Minaya’s surgery took place Friday morning. He then went back home to see family in New Jersey and will return Saturday to be on Carolina’s bench for its home game against Texas A&M.
Minaya, who’s started 56 of his 58 games at USC, took a medical redshirt last year because of a knee injury in November. The 6-foot-5 sophomore was rounding back in good form this season — see nine points, seven rebounds, two assists a game in SEC play — until he collided with Mizzou’s Tray Jackson on Saturday while going after an offensive rebound. He exited the game with 32.6 seconds left in the first half, but returned for 13 second half minutes with his thumb taped.
Minaya is fifth on USC in scoring (7.8 points per game) and second in rebounds, assists and blocks.
Without the versatile Minaya on Wednesday at Ole Miss, the Gamecocks (13-9, 5-4 SEC) lost for the first time in four games and allowed their season-high for points.
Wildens Leveque replaced Minaya in the starting lineup in Oxford. Martin said he’s still deciding between Leveque, Jalyn McCreary or Alanzo Frink in that spot for Saturday.
NEXT
What: Texas A&M at South Carolina
When: 1 p.m. Saturday
Where: Colonial Life Arena
TV: SEC Network
Radio: 107.5 The Game in Columbia area
