A reputable source tells Ivy Hoops Online that Princeton senior forward Denton Koon suffered a MCL injury at practice on Thursday and is not expected to start the season. However, Koon is expected to be able to return prior to the start of conference play.
Koon played in just 18 games last year and was ruled out for the remainder of last season in February due to a knee injury. The knee that Koon injured at practice Thursday was not the same knee that was injured last season.
The 6-8, 210 senior averaged 7.6 points and 3.2 rebounds per game last year, mostly coming off the bench. Koon’s injury will put extra pressure on a Princeton frontcourt featuring 2013-14 Ivy Rookie of the Year Spencer Weisz,junior Hans Brase and highly touted freshman Alec Brennan.
Koon’s early-season injury isn’t the only in recent years. Will Barrett suffered a foot injury eight games into his junior season and got another year of eligibility after withdrawing from school. Koon does seem to find himself in a similar position to Columbia forward Alex Rosenberg, who has the option to go for a fifth season or make himself available for conference play this season.
UPDATE: Princeton’s athletic department has confirmed Koon’s injury, saying that Koon will be out until the “second half of the season.”