Here's DMN article..Hopkins out balance of season

OldTimer · December 25, 2002

UNT guard Hopkins likely out for season

12/25/2002

By TIM MacMAHON / Denton Record-Chronicle

BOULDER, Colo. – North Texas sophomore shooting guard Leonard Hopkins broke the fifth metatarsal in his left foot, an injury that UNT trainer Brad Anderson said is likely season-ending.

Hopkins suffered the injury with less than two minutes remaining in the Mean Green’s loss Monday night at Colorado. He will undergo an operation in the next week to have a screw inserted in the foot and will be in a cast for four to six weeks before beginning the rehabilitation process, Anderson said.

Anderson added that the bone was not displaced, leaving “a really, really slim chance” that Hopkins could return by the Sun Belt tournament in March. Coach Johnny Jones said he would look into the possibility of Hopkins receiving a medical redshirt.

Hopkins redshirted as a true freshman, allowing him to fully recover from a stress fracture in his left leg and ensuing complications that sidelined him for his final two seasons at Dallas Lincoln.

Hopkins, who was not available for comment, averaged 11.5 points off the bench last season and moved into a starting role as a sophomore. He ranks second on the Mean Green in scoring (12.7 ppg), assists (19) and steals (10) this season.

“We’re definitely disappointed, because he worked so hard to get back from his previous injuries,” Jones said. “He had an excellent year last year and was being counted on heavily. As disappointing as it is, we’ve got to pick up the pieces and have somebody else step up.”

Freshman Scott Roniger, a reserve point guard who suffered a torn lateral meniscus in his right knee during Saturday’s loss at Tennessee Tech, will also undergo surgery in the next week. Anderson is hopeful that Roniger’s injury can be addressed with arthroscopic surgery, meaning he will be out no longer than two weeks.