In a tough blow for the North Carolina Tar Heels, sophomore forward James Brown will miss the remainder of the season. Coach Hubert Davis announced the news Friday, just ahead of their matchup against Syracuse.
Brown, standing tall at 6-foot-10 and hailing from Aurora, IL, underwent surgery on his right foot this past Wednesday. Unfortunately, this means his season is cut short.
This year, Brown appeared in just nine games, having not seen the court since UNC's victory over East Carolina on December 22. During his limited time, he averaged 5.6 minutes per game, contributing 11 points, 15 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks, and a steal.
His most significant court time came in a win against Radford last November, where he played 8 minutes, scored 4 points, and snagged 3 rebounds. Another notable appearance was against Michigan State in Fort Myers, FL, where he played 7 minutes but only managed a single rebound.
Reflecting on his freshman year, Brown logged 53 minutes across 18 games, scoring 21 points with an impressive 10-for-14 shooting from the field, along with 15 rebounds and a steal. His absence will certainly be felt as the Tar Heels push forward without him.