The Gophers men's basketball team doesn't officially open practice for this season until the end of the month, but forward Isaiah Ihnen will have no limitations once it starts.
Gophers forward Isaiah Ihnen cleared for contact after missing two seasons
Isaiah Ihnen, a junior forward for the Gophers men's basketball team, had been sidelined with knee injuries.
September 7, 2023 at 7:50PM
Ihnen, a 6-10 redshirt junior, was fully cleared for contact recently after missing the past two seasons because of knee injuries.
The German sat out last season after having surgery on the same left knee he injured before the 2021-22 season. This year, Ihnen is expected to compete for spot in the main rotation for the Gophers, who open the season Nov. 6 against Bethune Cookman.
The top prospect in the U's 2019 recruiting class, Ihnen has three-point range but can be a rebounding and shot blocking presence with his 7-4 wingspan. He last played under former Gophers coach Richard Pitino, averaging 2.8 points and 3.5 rebounds in 29 games in 2020-21. He's the last player from the Pitino era on the team.
Junior forward Parker Fox, a former Division II All-American transfer and Mahtomedi standout, was also lost for 2022-23 season because of a second torn ACL. Fox was limited in practice this summer as a precaution, but he could be fully cleared later this month.
Fox and Ihnen would add depth to the deepest position on the Gophers' roster for 2023-24, which includes returning forwards Joshua Ola-Joseph, Kadyn Betts, Dawson Garcia and Pharrel Payne.
Gophers coach Ben Johnson said at the State Fair last week that the team anticipated having Ihnen and Fox ready to go once practice begins in late September. Both players are currently participating in workouts.
"Our training staff does a phenomenal job," Johnson said. "Those guys have been the working under the hardest conditions, when there's no benefit and no [instant] reward. They built themselves up now where in the fall, they'll be ready to roll. I've never seen them play 5-on-5. I know they're excited. I'm excited."
Last year, the Gophers saw both Ihnen and Fox sidelined for the second time with knee surgeries in the summer. Other injuries popped up during a disappointing 9-22 season, but Johnson is thankful the team experienced a healthy summer.
"To be able to have a summer with no significant injuries, now you feel like you're hitting the floor and the ground running," Johnson said. "To be able to have multiple guys back from last year is a huge benefit. I love the new energy."
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