Report: Gophers' Elijah Hawkins ruled out and in walking boot

Hawkins currently leads the nation in assists per game.

Gophers men’s basketball point guard Elijah Hawkins is in a walking boot and will not play in Thursday night’s game against Michigan State in East Lansing, Mich., according to the Star Tribune’s Marcus Fuller.

Gophers coach Ben Johnson had previously said Hawkins would be a gametime decision for the contest with an ankle injury he sustained during Monday’s home loss to Iowa. Hawkins’ absence is a big blow to a Gophers team coming off back-to-back losses to Indiana and the Hawkeyes.

Hawkins currently leads the nation with 7.8 assists per game and has been a driving force for the Gophers’ offense. The U will now look to end its two-game skid without its floor general, certainly no easy task. 

Fuller also posted on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, that Pharrel Payne, who Johnson also had said would be a gametime decision, was warming up and available for Thursday night’s game. 

Minnesota guard Elijah Hawkins (0) works up court as Iowa guard Josh Dix (4) defends during the first half at Williams Arena in Minneapolis on Jan. 15, 2024 :: Matt Krohn / USA TODAY Sports