Wichita State basketball injury updates: DeGray, Williams cleared for practice
After missing the past seven weeks due to injury, senior forward Ronnie DeGray III has been cleared by doctors to return to practice this week for the Wichita State men’s basketball team.
DeGray fractured his left wrist on a fall during a Nov. 18 game against Monmouth and had been in a cast since a surgery around Thanksgiving. After averaging 9.7 points and 6.7 rebounds in WSU’s 3-0 start, DeGray has missed the last 11 games for the Shockers.
The 6-foot-6 senior forward is not anticipated to make his return to action for Saturday’s road game at UTSA, but he could be back during WSU’s homestand next week: either against Charlotte on Tuesday, Jan. 14 or against East Carolina on Saturday, Jan. 18.
WSU head coach Paul Mills also said that freshman wing T.J. Williams, who has not appeared in a game this season due to a meniscus tear, was recently cleared to return to practice. While DeGray and Williams are back in practice, they are still working their way back to 100%.
WSU’s third injured player, senior center Zane Meeks, remains out with a knee injury.
“We’ve got a heck of a scout team right now,” Mills said. “Those guys have been really good and now we’re defending those guys and it’s sometimes better than defending our (graduate assistants).”
The Shockers have clearly missed DeGray, a rugged defender and rebounder who excels at some of the things that WSU is currently struggling in. The senior was also a valued voice on the court and his leadership has been missed by the team.
It remains unclear if Williams, the 2024 Kansas Gatorade Player of the Year, will make his debut during American Athletic Conference play or redshirt his first season with the Shockers. The 6-foot-5 wing had made an impression this summer with his defense, but asking him to work his way up to speed in conference season is a tough ask of any true freshman.
This story was originally published January 10, 2025 at 7:32 AM.
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