Pitt forward Kene Chukwuka undergoes hip surgery
After playing in pain for much of the season, senior Pitt junior forward Kene Chukwuka had hip surgery Thursday at UPMC.
“Kene dealt with back and hip ailments throughout the season,” coach Jeff Capel said. “We are hopeful the surgery will correct the issues and enable him to return to full strength.”
No timetable has been set for his return.
Chukwuka averaged 3.9 points and 3.5 rebounds per game in 32 contests — all but one — with 17 starts. He led the team in field goal percentage (.534) and was second with 18 blocked shots. In Pitt’s penultimate game, he had a career-high nine rebounds in an ACC Tournament victory against Boston College. He did not play in the second-round game against Syracuse.
Jerry DiPaola is a TribLive reporter covering Pitt athletics since 2011. A Pittsburgh native, he joined the Trib in 1993, first as a copy editor and page designer in the sports department and later as the Pittsburgh Steelers reporter from 1994-2004. He can be reached at jdipaola@triblive.com.
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