Alabama’s James Rojas suffers a torn ACL
Alabama forward James Rojas is reported to have torn his ACL on Saturday.
This comes as a devastating blow for the senior out of Jamestown, N.Y, who tore his ACL two years ago and was forced to miss the entire 2019-2020 season. It is unconfirmed if the injury is on the same leg as the last time, but nonetheless it is still a major blow for the Crimson Tide who were looking for Rojas to take a major leap this season.
Last year Rojas averaged 2.9 points last year on 35% shooting from the field, while also pulling in 2.6 rebounds per game. He is a great defensive and hustle player who always plays at max speed. His energy and effort always lit a fire for the Tide and his role off the bench was crucial in many games this past season. His true potential was shown in the 86-71 win against Florida where he put up 15 points on 5-for-8 shooting and seven rebounds to go along. He also went 5-for-9 from the free throw line.
The length of his injury and recovery is unconfirmed at the point, but generally ACL injuries will sideline a player for anywhere between 6-10 months, which could put his return date somewhere around January or February of next year. There is still a chance he could come back at some point next season but with the severity and length of his injury still being unconfirmed, it is hard to tell if we will see him suit up for the Tide next season.
This is a big loss for the Tide, as Rojas is a veteran leader who could provide valuable minutes to an already loaded roster. Best wishes to him as he begins his road to recovery.