By Kent Taylor
LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) - University of Louisville head coach Rick Pitino told Kendrick Haskins of WAVE 3 Sports on Wednesday night that freshman Wayne Blackshear is getting closer to making his Cards debut.
"Wayne Blackshear has been cleared to play by the doctor," Pitino said tonight. "He's been practicing, he got cleared today, so he's cleared to play in games. Whether he will play in games remains to be seen. I probably will use him a little bit when we need him, but it will probably take him up until the DePaul game to be a factor."
The Cards visit West Virginia on Saturday, host #2 Syracuse Monday, and visit DePaul on Saturday, February 18.
Blackshear, a McDonald's All-American, saw action in the Cards exhibition game against Pikeville on October 26, 2011, missing all 6 of his shots in 15 minutes. The 6-5 Chicago native was expected to be a major contributor before suffering a torn labrum in his right shoulder, and was feared lost for the season.
He began individual instruction a few weeks ago, and practiced for the first time last week.
"He's got to get into better basketball shape," Pitino added. "He also has to learn the offenses and defenses. I probably didn't give Kevin Ware enough time because we were behind bodies, so we'll make sure that Wayne is ready to play before we use him."
Blackshear averaged 32.6 points, 14.6 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 3.7 steals as a high school senior.
Pitino has said in recent weeks that he doesn't expect the freshman to make a major impact this season. "He's been practicing and we've always needed a backup to Kyle Kuric and a backup to Chris Smith at the two guard," the Cards coach said before his weekly radio show. "It gives us another valuable asset down the road."
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