Virginia point guard Majestic Mapp will miss a second straight season due to a knee injury, according to ESPN.com and the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
Mapp was expected to be Virginia's starting point guard, but junior Roger Mason Jr. likely will assume that role in Mapp's absence.
Virginia coach Pete Gillen said in a press release on Sept. 3 that he hoped Mapp would be able to attend the Cavaliers' first practice on Oct. 13. Mapp decided, however, against postponing additional reconstructive surgery - his fourth in about 14 months.
The 20-year-old Mapp has not played for the Cavaliers since his freshmen season in 1999-2000. The former McDonald's All-American, who averaged 5.3 points a game as a freshmen at Virginia, originally injured his knee in August 2000 during a pickup game at home in New York.
"He hasn't responded well to treatment," Virginia assistant coach Tom Herrion told ESPN.com. "He needs another operation to solve the problem once and for all."
Virginia team physician Dr. Frank McCue performed the first two operations on Mapp last year. A California doctor performed surgery on Mapp this summer and reportedly will operate on Mapp again.
Should Mapp miss the entire 2001-2002 season, he would have a good chance at being granted a sixth year of eligibility, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Division I athletes normally have five years to complete four seasons of eligibility, but some have been granted a sixth.
Mapp and members of the basketball program could not be reached for comment.
Read More
Virginia falls short in nail-biting five-set match against Appalachian State
By Victoria Blankenship | YesterdayVirginia frittered away two match points in the fifth set.
Defense, poor clutch play ruin a banner day for Virginia’s offense in 35-31 loss
By Ryan Weiner | YesterdayThe Cavaliers faltered in the game's final minutes.
Abello, Lempers shine as No. 3 Virginia conquers No. 13 Ohio State
By Eleanor Buchanan | YesterdayCavalier field hockey dispatched one of the nation's top teams.
