Justice Sueing medically cleared to play for Ohio State
As Ohio State’s students begin classes Tuesday, an expected key contributor to the men’s basketball team has received clearance to participate in full practices.
After undergoing surgery to repair a damaged ligament in his left foot on Jan. 14, Justice Sueing is back to full action, coach Chris Holtmann has confirmed. A transfer from the University of California who sat out last season to satisfy NCAA transfer rules, Sueing is projected to be a significant contributor for the 2020-21 Buckeyes.
He has two years of remaining eligibility. As a sophomore, Sueing averaged a team-high 14.3 points and 6.0 rebounds for a Cal team that went 8-23 during the 2018-19 season that was the last for coach Wyking Jones. He also led the team in minutes played (34.5 per game) and steals (1.7) and was 126th nationally in free-throw rate.
Sueing is expected to step into a significant role for the Buckeyes. The 6-6, 210-pound versatile wing will vie for a starting spot, particularly in the absence of graduated senior Andre Wesson, and could be a candidate for minutes at every position save for point guard and center.
He’s not the only player on the roster working to a return to health. Forwards Musa Jallow and Seth Towns are both progressing toward recovery from injuries after undergoing surgeries during the calendar year. Jallow took a medical redshirt for the 2019-20 season after first undergoing exploratory surgery on his right ankle on Oct. 18 and then season-ending, reconstructive surgery on Jan. 24.
Jallow has made 68 appearances including 23 starts during his first two seasons with the program.
Towns, a graduate transfer from Harvard with two seasons of eligibility remaining, has missed the last two seasons with knee injuries. He remains on track to return to the court this season but is not quite as far along as Jallow.
The Buckeyes returned to campus last weekend in advance of the start of classes. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, they were able to do on-campus skill workouts before being sent home July 31.
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