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Ex-'Nova star Pinkston injures knee at Nets practice

JayVaughn Pinkston was excited about getting a chance to play for his hometown Brooklyn Nets in the NBA Summer League, but his enthusiasm turned to sadness and frustration on the first day of practice in Orlando.

Villanova's JayVaughn Pinkston. (Yong Kim/Staff Photographer)
Villanova's JayVaughn Pinkston. (Yong Kim/Staff Photographer)Read more

JayVaughn Pinkston was excited about getting a chance to play for his hometown Brooklyn Nets in the NBA Summer League, but his enthusiasm turned to sadness and frustration on the first day of practice in Orlando.

The 6-foot-7 Pinkston, who finished 20th on Villanova's all-time scoring list during a career that ended in the NCAA tournament in March, suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee Wednesday. Although no prognosis has been made public, it is unlikely Pinkston will play any basketball in the 2015-16 season.

Wildcats coach Jay Wright said he spoke with Pinkston on Wednesday night and again Thursday morning. After initially being down, Pinkston felt better after meeting with doctors. Wright said Pinkston probably will undergo surgery next week and then rehab at Villanova under athletic trainer Jeff Pierce.

"He met with the doctors this morning," Wright said Thursday. "He's looking forward to the next phase. After surgery next week, he'll come down here to rehab with our trainer. He's going to work hard at it. As crushed as he was [Wednesday] night, I was very impressed with how positive he was this morning."

Wright said he did not know how the undrafted Pinkston suffered the injury. He said that after the diagnosis was made, Pinkston flew to New York with the Nets' team doctor and was examined Thursday at the Hospital for Special Surgery.

"He had been playing great for the Nets, and they really liked him," he said. "They've been thinking about bringing him to training camp, not just having him play in the summer league. He really had worked out well for them and was playing well."

Pinkston, who was suspended from the university for his freshman season after an off-campus altercation, scored 1,590 points in his four years for the Wildcats and averaged 11.7 points. He scored 9.7 points and averaged 5.4 rebounds per game during his final season.