UNCASVILLE, Conn. — Rhode Island junior point guard Jarvis Garrett is expected to play on Sunday against No. 1 Duke in the championship game of the Hall of Fame Tip-Off at Mohegan Sun Arena, Rams coach Dan Hurley told ESPN’s Jeff Goodman.
Precautionary X-rays came up negative, a team source told ZAGSBLOG Saturday night. He has a sore neck but maintains feeling in all his limbs and has full range of motion.
“He’s obviously getting tests done, he’s got some type of neck injury,” Hurley said after his team beat No. 24 Cincinnati, 76-71, to advance to Sunday’s championship game.
The 6-foot Garrett banged the back of his head on the bottom of the basket stanchion and lay on his back for several minutes as trainers attended to him. Eventually, he was given a neck brace and taken out of the arena to the applause of the crowd and both teams. Hurley gave him a hug.
Garrett is the father of twin boys, Jayce and Jeremiah, and hopes to play professionally down the road to help support them.
“Yes, I am motivated to try to play professionally, play further than college basketball,” he told me this fall. “I feel like I’m in the right position right now as long as I stay on the right path and listen to coach.”
Last January, he was head-butted in the face and lost a tooth. He was told he would have to wear a Hannibal Lecter mask the remainder of the season if he wanted to keep playing. After missing one game, he was back wearing the mask. Photo: NBC Sports Follow Adam Zagoria on Twitter And like ZAGS on Facebook
Last January, he was head-butted in the face and lost a tooth. He was told he would have to wear a Hannibal Lecter mask the remainder of the season if he wanted to keep playing. After missing one game, he was back wearing the mask. Photo: NBC Sports Follow Adam Zagoria on Twitter And like ZAGS on Facebook
