July 24, 2017
AUBURN, Ala. – Auburn sophomore center Austin Wiley has a stress fracture in his left leg and will be out 4-6 weeks, head coach Bruce Pearl announced Monday. No surgery is required.
The 6-foot-11, 260-pound Wiley will travel but not play on the team’s upcoming trip to Italy in August.
Wiley, who won a bronze medal with the United States two weeks ago, injured his leg vs. Germany on July 7 in the FIBA U19 World Cup quarterfinals in Cairo, Egypt. He had 19 points and 10 rebounds in 22 minutes vs. Germany and played two more games.
“You know how tough and committed a young man is when he plays through the pain of a stress fracture,” said Pearl. “He was receiving treatment while in Egypt, but had no way of knowing the extent of his injury. Doctors say it is in a good spot for healing, and he will be fine.”
The Hoover, Ala., native totaled 13 points and 17 rebounds in 29 minutes in the USA’s semifinal loss to Canada and had eight points and eight rebounds in 20 minutes vs. Spain in the bronze medal game.
Wiley was the only American to average a double-double and one of seven in the U19 World Cup with 10.3 points and 10.9 rebounds in 19.9 minutes per game for the tournament as the United States went 6-1. He shot 50 percent from the field.
His 40-minute per game averages would be 20.5 points and 21.7 rebounds.
Wiley averaged 8.8 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 18.1 minutes this past season for Auburn while starting 21 of 22 games. He shot 58.0 percent from the floor and scored a career-high 25 points, including 21 in the second half, at NIT Champion TCU on Jan. 28.
He recorded his first double-double in only his 11th game as he had 10 points and a career-best 11 rebounds at No. 23 South Carolina, which reached the Final Four.
Wiley was named SEC Freshman of the Week on Jan. 23 after averaging 14.5 points and 7.5 rebounds in wins vs. Alabama and LSU.