Shoulder surgery for Gray, could miss 6 months

By Dan Fleser
Updated Thursday, July 2, 2009

Tennessee forward Amber Gray underwent shoulder surgery Thursday and won’t be ready to play for the Lay Vols for six months.

The 6-foot-1 rising sophomore injured her left shoulder in a post-season practice.

“Drs. Greg Mathien and Russell Betcher, UT team orthopaedists, performed surgery on Amber’s left shoulder,” said Jenny Moshak, University of Tennessee Associate Athletics Director for Sports Medicine. “The arthroscopic surgery addressed a repair to her posterior capsule and labrum.”

According to Moshak, Gray’s rehabilitation will begin immediately. Based on a six-month timetable, Gray would be ready to play in January when the SEC schedule starts.

Lady Vols coach Pat Summitt was not optimistic about when Gray will be ready to play.

“I don’t think there is any way you can fast-forward what is going on,” Summitt said. “It’s going to take time.”

Summitt wasn’t sure how Gray will respond after the surgery. Gray’s freshman season was not impressive. She played in 27 games, averaging 7.6 minutes of playing time per game. She had 2.7 scoring and 1.9 rebounding averages.

But, Summitt was seeing improvement.

“It’s wait and see as to what happens. It’s a guessing game,” she said. “Mentally and physically, she’s a lot stronger going into it, very positive.”

Summitt said the staff has not yet discussed the possibility of red-shirting Gray, but would consider it.

“We have to make decisions when we have more facts,” she said. “I’m certainly not going to rule out that she can get back and play.”