Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

Jay Wright: Redshirting a ‘possibility’ for Villanova freshman Bryan Antoine

HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL: JAN 14 Spalding Hoophall Classic

SPRINGFIELD, MA - JANUARY 14: Ranney School Panthers guard Bryan Antoine (1) during the second half of the Spalding Hoophall Classic high school basketball game between the Ranney School Panthers and the Mount St. Joseph Gaels on January 14, 2018, at the Blake Arena in Springfield, MA .(Photo by John Jones/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

NEW YORK -- Villanova freshman Bryan Antoine is expected to miss at least the first few weeks of the season after undergoing offseason shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder.

The surgery took place in early June, and according to head coach Jay Wright, Antoine has been out of action ever since.

“He hasn’t touched a basketball since his last high school game,” Wright said. “He still hasn’t practiced. It’s going to be tough for him to make an impact early.”

Antoine is a top 20 prospect in the Class of 2019 and the crown jewel of Villanova’s recruiting class. The 6-foot-4 combo-guard was expected to compete for a starting spot this season.

Wright added that redshirting Antoine is “a possibility” due to the injury, but that it is still too early to know how long the recovery process is going to be.

“It all going to depend on his rehab. We have to get through his rehab first,” Wright said. “People don’t know, this kid, he knew he had a shoulder problem coming out of high school, but he didn’t get diagnosed with a torn labrum until he got to Villanova. He played with it last year, and then didn’t play all spring.

“It’s reconstructive shoulder surgery. We have to see how the rehab goes, then get him back on the court and see how much this layoff has affected him.”

Antoine is not expected back onto the practice floor until “mid or late November,” Wright said. “Then we’re going to have to see how he does, get him in shape, see how he picks things up. Our other freshmen have been there all summer. He’s been there too, but he hasn’t been able to do anything.”