Georgia sophomore forward Rayshaun Hammonds underwent surgery “to address a fracture in his right foot” at Piedmont Athens Regional Medical Center on Thursday.
Bulldogs coach Tom Crean said following Wednesday night’s loss to Missouri that Hammonds likely was out for the season.
Hammonds, second on the UGA team in scoring (12.1 points), rebounding (6.1) and average minutes played (24.3), injured his foot against Ole Miss on Feb. 23.
The injury forced Hammonds to miss the Feb. 27 game with Auburn and limited him to five scoreless minutes in Georgia’s win at Florida on Saturday.
Hammonds had made 31 consecutive starts dating to last season, and his presence was clearly missed in the 64-39 loss to Missouri in the Bulldogs’ home finale.
Tigers coach Cuonzo Martin said Hammonds’ value could not be understated.
“You’re talking about a (6-foot-8), 6-9, 235-pound guy that can go inside or outside, can shoot it or post you up, so missing him, there’s no quick fix,” Martin told DawgNation on Thursday. “You can’t make up for his ability to rebound, to make a 3-point shot, to get an offensive rebound, and then spread the ball around.
“(Nicolas) Claxton is talented for them, but so is Rayshaun. It’s two different body types, but they have the same value, in my opinion.”
SEC Network analyst Dane Bradshaw also had great praise for Hammond, a former standout at Norcross High.
“Hammonds was a guy that could create on his own at times and was a very physical finisher,” Bradshaw told DawgNation on Thursday. “Defensively, he made it very difficult for opposing bigs that like to out-muscle you down low, as he holds his ground really well.”
The Bulldogs (11-19, 2-15 SEC) play at 1 p.m. Saturday at South Carolina before opening the SEC Tournament in Nashville at 7 p.m. Wednesday.
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