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Syracuse Orange sophomore center Paschal Chukwu is out indefinitely following surgery on a torn right retina, according to the official SU men’s basketball Twitter account.
INJURY UPDATE: Center Paschal Chukwu is OUT today with a torn retina in his right eye. Procedure to repair was performed this morning. pic.twitter.com/uqYReLOqoT
— Syracuse Basketball (@Cuse_MBB) December 17, 2016
Chukwu, a transfer from Providence College, is in his first year of eligibility at Syracuse. He committed to the Friars out of high school, where he spent the 2014-15 season. He averaged 2.6 points and 2.4 rebounds before ultimately transferring to SU.
Chukwu was forced to sit out the 2015-16 Final Four season due to NCAA transfer rules.
This season, he’s averaging 1.7 points and 4.1 rebounds in 15.4 minutes per game.
Chukwu has gone through some growing pains on the floor. His offensive game is raw, but he’s a natural rim protector at 7-foot-2, the tallest player in SU basketball history.
Chukwu first hurt his eye when John Gillon threw a no-look pass in the Holy Cross game that hit him directly in the eye. The following game against Monmouth, Chukwu came out wearing protective goggles.
There is no timetable for his return.