by Bill DiFilippo / @bflip33
Good news for Baylor fans, as rising sophomore center Isaiah Austin is back to practicing after off-season shoulder surgery.
Austin, a potential NBA Lottery pick and an All-Big 12 Third-Team selection from last year, says he’s “85 percent” healthy. The 7-1 center from Arlington, TX, averaged 13.0 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game as a freshman last season. The big man was also third on the team in three-point field-goal percentage, knocking down 33.3 percent of his shots from downtown.
From ESPN:
The 7-foot-1 Austin, who averaged 13 points and 8.3 rebounds as a freshman, said he initially injured the shoulder in Big 12 play. However, it became so painful after the season that it made his decision to remain in college for another season a no-brainer.
“I wouldn’t have been able to work out for teams,” Austin said. “I could barely lift five pounds.”
With do-everything point guard Pierre Jackson leaving for graduation, Scott Drew’s Bears will need all the production they can get out of Austin if they want to build on last year’s run to the Elite Eight.
