Tennessee basketball’s JP Estrella has a bone bruise on his left knee, multiple sources told RTI Wednesday. Estrella and the Vols avoided the worst after the talented sophomore exited Tennessee’s 91-66 win over Rice with a left leg injury and did not return.
The timeline for Estrella’s injury is not yet clear but the good news is that the injury should not cost Estrella his season.
Estrella has been a breakout star for Tennessee early this season, averaging 17.3 points, 8.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists through the Vols’ first three games of the season. The redshirt sophomore had recorded double-doubles in two of Tennessee’s first three games. He had four points and one rebound late in the first half against Rice when he suffered the injury.
“I don’t think we’re surprised because we told him, from the day that we recruited him, what we thought he could be,” Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes said of Estrella following the North Florida game. “And we do think, as a staff, the last two weeks, his mindset has changed. I mean, I think missing a year. We knew that would take a little bit of time, but he’s gotten so much better with his focus in practice.”
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The sophomore big man was bending down to grab a loose ball when a Rice player made an attempt to grab the basketball and pushed Estrella’s left leg back. He immediately grabbed his left leg and was in clear pain. Estrella limped off the floor with the help of two Tennessee staffers and went straight up the tunnel instead of going to the Vols’ bench.
Estrella returned to the bench in the second half with a towel around his head and a bag of ice on his knee but did not return to the game.
The good news for Tennessee is that the Vols have tremendous front court depth. Felix Okpara and Cade Phillips make up the Vols’ starting front court while Jaylen Carey and DeWayne Brown are also strong options off the bench for Rick Barnes’ 11th Tennessee team.
Tennessee basketball is back in action on Thursday night against Tennessee State before heading to Las Vegas to play three games in either three or four days. The Vols will play Rutgers in their first game and Houston in their second game. The Vols third opponent is not yet set.
