Tennessee forward JP Estrella sustained a left leg injury in the first half of Monday night’s game against Rice, forcing the sophomore big man to exit early.
Estrella, who recently returned from a season-ending foot injury, went down after contact near the basket while fighting for a rebound.
Tennessee coach Rick Barnes said postgame that the early indication pointed to a hyperextension, but that a full evaluation would come on Tuesday.
“For JP, we all hurt for him cause, you know, he’s worked so hard to come back from the foot injury, and that was a freaky thing,” Barnes said.
Barnes said the staff did not have a full diagnosis immediately after the game.
“All I can tell you is a left leg injury. I mean, it looked like when that play happened, the guy went in between his legs, and it looked, what I saw, maybe he hyperextended it,” Barnes said.
Barnes added that the team is hopeful for a positive outcome.
“He’ll do everything he can to get back, and we’re just hoping that you know, it’s nothing crazy,” Barnes said. “Nobody wants to see him out there more than his teammates and the coaches, because of how hard he’s worked his way back.”
Teammate Felix Okpara echoed the support in the locker room.
“Man, JP has been terrific. It’s just sad to see, you know, that happen,” Okpara said.
Okpara continued, “We’re there with him, we and the team. You know, we’re there for him and cheering him on.”
Through the first three games of the season, Estrella has orchestrated a pair of double-double performances.
“He’s definitely did some good things for us in the past three games,” Okpara said.
Estrella exited the games after playing just nine minutes. In that time, he recorded four points and one rebound.
“I think right now, we just got to, you know, be there by his side and also focus on the season,” Okpara said.
Tennessee will await further medical evaluation before determining Estrella’s timeline for return.
