Markell Johnson to Miss Basketball Opener
Apparently the injury bug that has plagued the NC State football team this season has also bitten the Wolfpack's basketball team.
Senior guard Markell Johnson, the team's top returning scorer, has been ruled out of tonight's season opener against ACC rival Georgia Tech at PNC Arena because of an ankle injury. He was on the bench in street clothes during pregame warmups, but neither foot was in a walking boot.
Freshman wing Dereon Seabron will also miss the game because of an ankle issue.
State coach Kevin Keatts warned on Monday that his team would be shorthanded for tonight's game, but didn't speficy who or how many players might be sidelined.
Unlike Seabron, who sat out last week's exhibition game against Mount Olive with the same injury, Johnson's inability to play comes as a surprise -- indicating that he was likely hurt during practice last week.
Johnson averaged 12.6 points and 4.2 assists last season and is expected to be the Wolfpack's on-court leader this year. He scored 26 points in the exhibition win against Mount Olive.
Junior Braxton Beverly will start at the point guard position in Johnson's place with senior wing C.J. Bryce sharing the ballhandling duties.
Beverly, big man Danny Dixon and wing Jericole Hellems -- all of whom sat out the second half of the Mount Olive exhibition with various ailments -- are all expected to play against Tech.
