Arizona graduate transfer Talbott Denny will likely miss the upcoming season after suffering a major knee surgery during an offseason workout, the Star has been told.
UA has not confirmed the injury, however, and has not responded to a request for comment. Denny has been wearing a protective boot.
Expected to be a role player and key practice figure this season, Denny is expected to seek a waiver for a sixth year of eligibility, since he already sat out last season at Lipscomb while recovering from a shoulder injury last season.
A native of Tucson who grew up cheering for the Wildcats, Denny played three seasons for Lipscomb and was named to the Atlantic Sun Tournament all-tournament team in 2013-14. He has one year left of eligibility but because he enrolled in 2012-13, his five-year NCAA "clock" would be completed next spring.
However, the NCAA sometimes approves an extension to six years for players who suffer season-ending surgery, and Oregon guard Dylan Ennis is one of the latest. Ennis transferred to Oregon last summer from Villanova as a grad transfer but was lost for the season after just two games; he received clearance in June to play in 2016-17.
Denny committed to Arizona last spring and transferred this summer after finishing his undergraduate degree at Lipscomb. He said he was planning to pursue an Eller MBA at Arizona, making his move for both on- and off-court reasons.
"It’s been my team since I was born," Denny said last spring.
