Latest injury update on Latrell Wrightsell Jr. before Kentucky game
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama senior guard Latrell Wrightsell Jr. missed the Crimson Tide’s last game against Florida due to a head injury, and head coach Nate Oats offered the latest on the Alabama starter before the Tide’s road trip to Lexington to take on No. 17 Kentucky.
“Trelly is still being evaluated day-to-day,” Oats said on Friday. “We haven’t practiced yet. We’re gonna actually practice in Lexington today, so we’ll see how today goes, see what happens for tomorrow.”
Wrightsell has played in all 25 of the Crimson Tide’s games this season, his first with the team after transferring from Cal State Fullerton, and has been in the starting lineup for each of the last seven games. Wrightsell is averaging 9.0 points per game on the year but averaged 18.5 points over Alabama’s last two games and shot 10-of-17 from behind the 3-point line.
Wrightsell is shooting 42.4 percent from the field, 44.5 percent from three and 100 percent from the free-throw line this year. He currently ranks fifth in the SEC in 3-point percentage. Wrightsell has scored double-digit points in eight games, and the Tide has won all eight.
Freshman forward Jarin Stevenson replaced Wrightsell in the starting lineup against the Gators, marking his first career. Another true freshman, Sam Walters, also stepped up in Wrightsell’s absence, scoring 14 points on a season-high four made threes in 18 minutes.
“We need Sam to play well,” Oats said. “Trelly had been making shots at a high clip. Sam’s capable of making shots. He was 4-of-7 from three the last game. He’s gonna need to play well on both sides of the ball. Trelly has been one of our best perimeter defenders all year. We need Sam to continue to step up his defense, and it’s been getting better.
“Sam’s playing his best defense of the year right now, too, and I think he’s getting his confidence back on offense. It’d be big if he stepped up and have a big game. Even if Trelly can go, it’d still be huge if Sam could play well for us.”
The Crimson Tide’s upcoming road game at Kentucky is set to tip off at 3 p.m. CT on CBS.
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