By: Kyle Tooley ~Sports Editor~
Xavier redshirt sophomore point guard Edmond Sumner tore his ACL against St. John’s Sunday, effectively ending his 2016-17 campaign. The Detroit product was the team’s leader in assists and second on the team in points and steals.
As explosive as any guard in the country, Sumner found himself on highlight shows week in and week out. Xavier fans may even have Sumner’s dunk over Cincinnati’s Octavius Ellis as their phone screensaver.
Plagued with a shoulder injury throughout much of the season, questions have surrounded the 6’6” Sumner since the year began. A Preseason All-Big East First Team selection, the banged -up shoulder and a high turnover rate led to lowered expectations as the season progressed, for both Sumner and the Musketeers. The success of the two was viewed as hand-in-hand by many across the country.
Heading into the season, many fans figured Sumner would turn pro after this season. ESPN NBA Draft analyst Chad Ford predicted back in August that Sumner would be taken 16th overall in the 2017 NBA Draft, with his stock falling ever since. In Ford’s “Mock Draft 2.0,” published on Jan. 4, Sumner was no longer considered a first-round talent.
ACL tears usually take seven to 10 months to heal, indicating that Sumner would not be fully recovered by June’s NBA Draft. Questions will swirl about Sumner’s decision on turning pro for the rest of the season.
Until then, Xavier will turn to freshman point guard Quentin Goodin to run the offense. Goodin is averaging 3.5 points in 15 minutes per game this season and is coming off his best outing of his college career, as he posted a career-high 16 points in 25 minutes against St. John’s.
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