Gian Clavell, stalwart Ram.
For the Colorado State Rams men’s basketball team, losing Clavell for the season due to a broken hand was a big blow. Through the first 10 games of the team’s 2015-16 season, Clavell led his Rams in both scoring (20.8 PPG) and minutes played per game (36.9); the senior guard was their most important player.
It’s not just that Clavell was shooting lights-out, he was contending for a Mountain West Player of the Year award because he was becoming a vocal leader on the court and was one of the few CSU players to give the extra effort on defense they need to compete.
In the lead up to their game against the Kansas State Wildcats, Clavell broke his left hand in practice on Thursday, Dec. 17. Then, following the Rams blowout of UC Upstate on Dec. 21, head coach Larry Eustachy said Clavell also had a torn shoulder which would need surgery.
“He has a tear in his shoulder. He’s going to have to address that,” Eustachy said after the Rams 89-61 win over USC Upstate. “He’s been playing with it for a year and Wes Eikmeier never addressed it and it ended his career premature overseas.
“It’s a six-month recovery,” Eustachy continued. “So, he’ll have is scheduled sometime in early January so he can get right to where he can go to class. I think it’s weird for him. He’s kind of a wounded, walking MASH unit right now. But, he’s quite a teammate, if you watch him. He’s really helped during the practices since he’s been hurt.”
Today was the day of the surgery, and Clavell took a moment to tweet out a picture of his smiling self, recovering from the hospital bed.
Thanks to everybody for the support. Now it's time to overcome adversity and look forward to new beginnings. pic.twitter.com/pVgmSQmrh0
— Gian Clavell (@clavelito04) January 13, 2016
Clavell’s hoping the NCAA grants him a medical redshirt and he’ll be able to return for the 2016-17 season. In the meantime, he has six months to rehab and recover from the shoulder surgery.
Tonight, Clavell’s 10-6, 2-1 MW Rams host the San Diego Sate Aztecs (10-6, 3-0 MW) at Moby Arena. The game is scheduled to tip-off at 8 p.m. MT.
