LSU coach Johnny Jones remains uncertain of senior guard Keith Hornsby’s availability for the remainder of the 2015-16 season due to a recurring sports hernia injury, the fourth-year coach reiterated at news conference Monday afternoon.
After an ESPN report saying Hornsby’s absence may be season-ending, Jones corrected the report, and said Hornsby may see a possible revival for the long-term, but ruled Hornsby out against Arkansas on Tuesday.
“There are some erroneous reports reported early, but he’s still with the doctor earlier today,” Jones said. “The doctor got with him on Sunday evening and he said he wanted to do some other procedures today. He wants to make sure he finds everything out. There’s nothing definitive about his situation right now. We are still waiting.”
He received X-rays upon returning to Baton Rouge on Sunday. Jones said he went through more tests on Monday, and “may still be with the doctor” as of 12:45 p.m. Monday.
Hornsby was sidelined for the first seven games of the season after undergoing sports hernia surgery. Hornsby has said on numerous occasions he is playing through pain even after the procedure.
Jones, though, said Hornsby wasn’t rushed back after the preseason surgery.
“We left that up to the doctors,” Jones said. “I’m sure [the decision] was with Keith’s best interest and health in mind.”
Hornsby played 12 minutes against Tennessee before being sidelined for the remainder of the game, due to the pain reaching a maximum. He is Tigers leading 3-point shooter with 39 makes on 94 attempts — 41.5 percent — but Jones said that won’t be the biggest loss with the senior going down.
He’s a vocal leader, which younger players find admirable. According to Jones, Hornsby may have to direct and manage the youthful Tigers from a chair for the remainder of the season.
“He’s going to have to be like a coach on the bench, staying locked in,” Jones said. “If he can’t play, being on the bench will mean a lot. … We will need someone to step up with leadership. At this time of the year, we will need it. It’s important.”
On Monday morning at the Southeastern Conference coaches’ teleconference, Jones said he could expect sophomore guard Jalyn Patterson and freshman guard Brandon Sampson to fill Hornsby’s shooting guard minutes, and he repeated that sentiment during the news conference.
“Several guys will have to fill the role Keith has with this team,” Jones said. “We will certainly miss him if he isn’t able to be on the floor with us.”
Sampson started the Tigers first four games instead of the then-injured Hornsby, and Patterson filled a spot in the starting lineup for 11 games this season. Prior to the Tennessee game, however, Sampson hadn’t played more than 10 minutes in any game after the home win against American on Dec. 22, and he didn’t play at all in five different contests.
Hornsby remains as the Tigers second-leading scorer with 13.1 points per game only trailing freshman Ben Simmons. Hornsby has logged 608 minutes since returning from surgery, the Tigers fourth-highest number.