8686: Haitian NBA PLayer Injured: Reuters071301 (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: JPS390@aol.com

NBA-Sixers' first-round pick to have throat surgery

  
PHILADELPHIA, July 13 (Reuters) - <A HREF="aol://1722:76ers">Philadelphia 
76ers</A> first-round pick Samuel Dalembert will have throat surgery after 
being injured during the club's first day of summer workouts, the team said 
Friday. 

The 6-foot-11 (2.11 metres) center suffered a displaced laryngeal fracture of 
his thyroid cartilage in the workout on Thursday. He will have surgery 
Tuesday and is expected to return to physical activity four to six weeks 
later. 

That means he should be ready for training camp in early October. 

It is the second straight year Philadelphia's first-round pick has been 
injured during the summer. Last year, guard Speedy Claxton tore his anterior 
cruciate ligament and the knee injury forced him to miss his entire rookie 
season. 

Dalembert opted for the NBA draft after two years at Seton Hall and was taken 
by the Sixers with the 26th overall selection. Despite playing only 59 games 
at Seton Hall, he became the school's all-time leader in blocked shots with 
167. 

A native of Haiti, Dalembert averaged 7.1 points and 5.8 rebounds per game 
for the Pirates. 

17:13 07-13-01

Copyright 2001 Reuters Limited.