Michigan basketball guard Jaelin Llewellyn out for season with ACL injury
Michigan Wolverines basketball graduate guard Jaelin Llewellyn went down with what appeared to be a non-contact left knee injury during the Maize and Blue’s 73-69 loss to Kentucky Sunday in London. Head coach Juwan Howard said postgame that they’d wait to get an evaluation from doctors in Ann Arbor. Now that the process is complete, it’s been determined that Llewellyn will miss the remainder of the campaign with an ACL injury.
“We are devastated for Jaelin,” Howard said in a statement. “He worked so hard after joining us this summer and was making that next step in leading this team. His maturity and work ethic has already made a mark on our program and culture. Knowing him, this setback will only serve as an opportunity to grow as a person and player, but more importantly, offer himself a chance to help this program in any way he can. I admire that.”
“Although this is not how I imagined my season here at Michigan would end, the support and love from everyone in the program will help me get through the rehab process,” said Llewellyn. “I’m looking forward to being my teammates’ biggest supporter for the rest of the season. Go Blue!”
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After a beginning his collegiate career at Princeton, Llewellyn joined the Wolverines as a graduate transfer this season. He could apply for a waiver to receive an extra season of eligibility.
Starting all eight games this season, he was averaging seven points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.8 assists. He has started all 84 games in his career, scoring 1,120 points with 316 rebounds and 212 assists.
Llewellyn will begin rehabilitation and prep immediately before his expected surgery sometime in early January, according to the Michigan program.
Freshman Dug McDaniel is the next man up at the position, and assistant Saddi Washington believes it’s a good opportunity for the youngster to step up. It will test the Wolverines’ already-thin depth at guard as a whole, meaning we may see sophomore Kobe Bufkin take on some lead guard duties as well.
“I think Dug has come along pretty well,” the Michigan assistant explained. “He’s been a great spark plug for us off the bench. He’s been tremendous in terms of his willingness to learn. He’s a great competitive kid, able to change the pace of the game with his speed and his quickness. We’re confident that, if his role needs to increase, that we’ll bring him along like we have every other guy.”
