UCLA basketball: James Keefe out for the season with shoulder injury

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UCLA senior forward James Keefe will undergo surgery to repair his left shoulder next week and not return this season. Keefe re-injured the shoulder Friday in practice. It was the third time this season that he has dislocated the shoulder, which has caused him to miss four games.

Keefe, a starter who is averaging 2.2 points and 2.8 rebounds, had surgery to repair a torn labrum in the same shoulder in 2007.

[Updated at 1:58 p.m.: ‘I’m very disappointed to be ending my senior year early,’ Keefe said. ‘I would have liked to be able to come back and finish my final season, but as of now, I’m unable to play and my shoulder hasn’t improved.

‘I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time at UCLA and have had a lot of great memories with the basketball program. I should be graduating this spring and after some rehabilitation on my shoulder, look forward to continuing my basketball career professionally somewhere.’

UCLA Coach Ben Howland echoed Keefe’s sentiments.

‘I am very disappointed and sad that James Keefe has had to go through all of these issues with his shoulder this year,’ Howland said. ‘He has handled it very well and I know he is disappointed that he won’t be able to finish his senior year.’]

Brendan Lane started in Keefe’s place against USC on Sunday.

-- Chris Foster
chris.foster@latimes.com
twitter.com/cfosterlatimes