Kansas guard Elmarko Jackson tore his patellar tendon and will need surgery and a year’s worth of recovery, KU men’s basketball coach Bill Self announced Wednesday afternoon.
The injury occurred during a scrimmage at Self’s youth camp on Tuesday afternoon at Horejsi Family Volleyball Arena when Jackson got hit and landed awkwardly while driving to the basket.
“Yesterday, while working out in front of the campers, Elmarko Jackson tore his patellar tendon, an MRI conducted by Kansas Team Health confirmed last night,” Self said in a statement. “It will require surgery within the next several days and a full recovery is anticipated. Elmarko will be able to assume non-contact basketball duties in the next several months, but the full rehab process will take approximately 12 months.”
The injury is a blow to KU’s backcourt depth, particularly given that it deprives the Jayhawks of a former McDonald’s All-American whom Self had previously suggested was poised to take a significant step in his second season in Lawrence.
“We are all crushed by this,” Self said in the statement. “Elmarko has had a terrific spring. He has worked so hard and improved so much. This will be a challenge that he will meet head on and he will return as good as ever.”
The athletic guard Jackson averaged 4.2 points per game during his freshman season, which he began in the starting lineup before moving to the bench during conference play. While he struggled to assert himself on offense for much of the year, he had some memorable moments later in the year, including a breakout performance off the bench at Baylor and then a defensive save to help seal the NCAA Tournament win against Samford.
Looking back on the campaign at an event in Topeka on Monday, Self said it was probably “a little unfair” that Jackson — relatively new to basketball after growing up playing lacrosse — was thrust into such a big role early on.
Now, the loss of Jackson makes KU’s need for a 12th scholarship player somewhat more urgent, after Self already said on Monday that he was looking for another starting-caliber option. In the short term, South Dakota State transfer Zeke Mayo will likely have to shoulder more responsibility as a secondary ball handler besides point guard Dajuan Harris Jr.
AP Photo/Mitch Alcala
