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Buckeyes’ Tate cleared after surgeries

Jae'Sean Tate

Ohio State’s Jae’Sean Tate (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

AP

An Ohio State starter is on schedule to return on time for his junior year after injuries cut his sophomore campaign short.

Jae’Sean Tate, who started 28 games for the Buckeyes last season, has been fully cleared to practice this month after undergoing multiple surgeries, according to Cleveland.com.

“When we get back he’ll be 100 percent full contact,” Ohio State coach Thad Matta said. “He can shoot and run and do all those things now.

“He’s kind of been like living in a cage and has been released, and he’s ready to run a marathon.”

Tate’s season came to an abrupt end in February when he underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder. He was averaging 11.7 points and 6.4 rebounds while shooting 52.1 percent at the time. In addition to shoulder surgery, Tate also underwent a surgical procedure on his ankle stemming from an injury he suffered prior to his sophomore year.

His return to the floor is critical for the Buckeyes as they look to rebound from last year’s NIT season which featured the defections via transfer of four members of the program’s highly-regarded 2015 recruiting class. Even with those losses, the Buckeyes have their top six scorers from last season back while welcoming a four-man recruiting class that includes four-star forward Derek Funderburk.