Seton Hall sophomore forward Herb Pope expects to play for the Pirates next season after collapsing April 30 during a workout.
“He was discharged [from St. Barnabas Medical Center],” said a source with direct knowledge who requested anonymity. “He is looking forward to getting back on the court to train. He will be playing for Seton Hall basketball next season.”
SNY.tv reported May 12 that Pope was expected to make a “full recovery” despite the collapse.
The 6-foot-8 Pope must be cleared by doctors to resume basketball activities, but if he is, Seton Hall could be one of the more dangerous teams in the Big East under first-year coach Kevin Willard.
“I think if Herb Pope returns with that personnel and the type of coach Kevin Willard is, you’re looking at a team that’s possibly a Top-25 team and a team that will contend to be at the top of the Big East,” one Big East assistant coach said recently.
“With Kevin’s style of play and those kids, I think that team could be tremendous.”
Seton Hall finished 19-13 last season, 9-9 in the Big East.
During a recent interview, Willard said he was “excited” about next year’s team, which will also include returning players Jeremy Hazell, Jeff Robinson, Keon Lawrence and Jordan Theodore, as well as newcomers Fuquan Edwin, Patrik Auda and Anali Okoloji. Hazell, Robinson and Pope all declared for the NBA Draft, but pulled out before the deadline.
“I’m excited about the kids we have in the program,” said Willard, who took over the Big East program March 28 after Bobby Gonzalez was fired. “I’m excited about where we can go with this team. There’s no promises, no anything. But the six weeks I was here, working with them, getting to know them, great kids. I’m really excited about where we can go.”
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