Kentucky freshman Patrick Patterson will miss the rest of the season because of a stress fracture in his left ankle.
Patterson, a blue chip recruit out of West Virginia who leads all Southeastern Conference freshman scorers with 16.4 points a game, had the injury confirmed after an X-ray Friday. He will be out approximately eight weeks and is wearing a cast on his foot, the school said.
The statement didn't indicate how Patterson got hurt, and a call to UK media relations wasn't immediately returned.
The injury is a blow for the Wildcats, who face No. 1 Tennessee on Sunday in a battle for first place in the SEC East.
The 6-foot-8 Patterson, who averages eight rebounds, has taken the vast majority of Kentucky's shots in the paint. Without him, the Wildcats may have to rely more heavily on sophomore forward Perry Stevenson and seldom-used junior Jared Carter and freshman Mo Williams.
Kentucky (16-10, 10-3) has three games remaining before the SEC tournament and may need multiple victories to sneak into the NCAA tournament.
Patterson led Huntington High to three straight West Virginia state championships, the last one alongside fellow phenom O.J. Mayo, who currently plays for Southern Cal.
Patterson, a blue chip recruit out of West Virginia who leads all Southeastern Conference freshman scorers with 16.4 points a game, had the injury confirmed after an X-ray Friday. He will be out approximately eight weeks and is wearing a cast on his foot, the school said.
The statement didn't indicate how Patterson got hurt, and a call to UK media relations wasn't immediately returned.
The injury is a blow for the Wildcats, who face No. 1 Tennessee on Sunday in a battle for first place in the SEC East.
The 6-foot-8 Patterson, who averages eight rebounds, has taken the vast majority of Kentucky's shots in the paint. Without him, the Wildcats may have to rely more heavily on sophomore forward Perry Stevenson and seldom-used junior Jared Carter and freshman Mo Williams.
Kentucky (16-10, 10-3) has three games remaining before the SEC tournament and may need multiple victories to sneak into the NCAA tournament.
Patterson led Huntington High to three straight West Virginia state championships, the last one alongside fellow phenom O.J. Mayo, who currently plays for Southern Cal.
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