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Cal Basketball

Jalen Celestine To Miss Start Of 2022-23 Season

July 28, 2022
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BERKELEY – California men’s basketball guard Jalen Celestine underwent knee surgery this spring and will miss the start of the Golden Bears’ 2022-23 season, which gets underway Nov. 7 against UC Davis. A timetable for Celestine’s return has not yet been determined.

“This is the second consecutive year that Jalen has had to endure an offseason surgery, but his approach to the recovery process has been terrific,” Cal head coach Mark Fox said. “We’ll be excited once he’s fully healthy and ready to return to the court.”

Celestine, a rising junior from Ajax, Ontario, has averaged 5.5 points and 2.5 rebounds per game throughout his first two seasons with the Bears, appearing in 53 total contests with 22 starts. He emerged as a key contributor as a sophomore last year, averaging 7.5 points (8.4 PPG in Pac-12 play) and 3.1 rebounds in 25 minutes per game. Seven of his eight double-figure scoring efforts in the 2021-22 campaign came against Pac-12 teams, including a career-high 20 points off the bench against Washington State on Feb. 5.

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Jalen Celestine To Miss Start Of 2022-23 Season

5,027 Views | 19 Replies | Last: 1 yr ago by calumnus
89Bear
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Wait, missing only the start to the season???
With the rumors out there, I had assumed that he was done for the year. Pleasantly surprised!!
Big C
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I think, for now, they're announcing he'll miss the start of the season, while, for the time being, keeping their options open for later. I'd be surprised if he played, but who knows?
calumnus
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Big C said:


I think, for now, they're announcing he'll miss the start of the season, while, for the time being, keeping their options open for later. I'd be surprised if he played, but who knows?


It was his knee. My guess is he redshirts, but who knows? If nobody emerges at the 2 we may rush him back as soon as he can go.
4thGenCal
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Big C said:


I think, for now, they're announcing he'll miss the start of the season, while, for the time being, keeping their options open for later. I'd be surprised if he played, but who knows?
Extremely unlikely Jalen plays this season - it was a serious MCL/ACL injury and its typically minimum 12 months from surgery (assuming positive rehab and strengthening of ligaments). Jalen mentally wants to be ready in February, but even then it would be a stretch to put him out there and risk a set back. Great young man and wish the best for him. At most Jalen plays the following year before moving on. Likes his teammates and Berkeley, but its tough being far away from home and school (fine academically) is not his first or second love.
calumnus
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4thGenCal said:

Big C said:


I think, for now, they're announcing he'll miss the start of the season, while, for the time being, keeping their options open for later. I'd be surprised if he played, but who knows?
Extremely unlikely Jalen plays this season - it was a serious MCL/ACL injury and its typically minimum 12 months from surgery (assuming positive rehab and strengthening of ligaments). Jalen mentally wants to be ready in February, but even then it would be a stretch to put him out there and risk a set back. Great young man and wish the best for him. At most Jalen plays the following year before moving on. Likes his teammates and Berkeley, but its tough being far away from home and school (fine academically) is not his first or second love.


Thanks for your insight.

Celestine transferring out would be a blow. He is Fox's best recruit so far.
CalLifer
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calumnus said:

4thGenCal said:

Big C said:


I think, for now, they're announcing he'll miss the start of the season, while, for the time being, keeping their options open for later. I'd be surprised if he played, but who knows?
Extremely unlikely Jalen plays this season - it was a serious MCL/ACL injury and its typically minimum 12 months from surgery (assuming positive rehab and strengthening of ligaments). Jalen mentally wants to be ready in February, but even then it would be a stretch to put him out there and risk a set back. Great young man and wish the best for him. At most Jalen plays the following year before moving on. Likes his teammates and Berkeley, but its tough being far away from home and school (fine academically) is not his first or second love.


Thanks for your insight.

Celestine transferring out would be a blow. He is Fox's best recruit so far.
I totally missed that point in 4thGenCal's post. What another terrible blow to the program, and a further indictment of Fox and his recruiting. I remarked in a post on the free men's hoops board that it's never good to think that you have hit rock bottom, because some people will always find a way to make things worse. I guess this proves that out.
BC Calfan
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For all his faults, undergrad player retention isn't one we can pin on Fox. Bradley is the only one and that's a doozy. I'm actually impressed with player loyalty to Fox given the losing. BUT, if players, especially undergrads, start leaving then that REALLY has to put him on thin ice? Right??
CalLifer
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BC Calfan said:

For all his faults, undergrad player retention isn't one we can pin on Fox. Bradley is the only one and that's a doozy. But, I'm actually impressed with player loyalty to Fox given the losing. BUT, if players, especially undergrads, start leaving then that REALLY has to put him on thin ice? Right??
What about Kelly? does he not count?
BC Calfan
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Personally, no. He did his 4 years and graduated. Pretty rare for a player to stay at same school into post-grad.

CalLifer
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BC Calfan said:

Personally, no. He did his 4 years and graduated. Pretty rare for a player to stay at same school into post-grad.


I get your point. I personally thought there was more of a possibility he would stay (i.e. he wasn't precluded from staying by grad school degree issues or anything, and it was more of a choice between staying and moving on). If it was a choice, it's still a black mark on Fox in my view. I think it's rare for a player to stay at the same school post grad if he sees better opportunities elsewhere. If cal was a winning team and/or he loved playing for Fox, I don't think he'd be decamping to UCSB.
HearstMining
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BC Calfan said:

For all his faults, undergrad player retention isn't one we can pin on Fox. Bradley is the only one and that's a doozy. I'm actually impressed with player loyalty to Fox given the losing. BUT, if players, especially undergrads, start leaving then that REALLY has to put him on thin ice? Right??

Fox gets credit for retaining Kelly , but how many other players, particularly Fox recruits, could have gotten scholarship offers on another major conference team? Anticevich could have made other teams but he wouldn't have gotten the playing time he got at Cal. I think all the other players would have had to step down a level (Big West Conference or equivalent) to land a scholarship slot. So, Fox's player retention credit is pretty small, in my book.
Big C
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CalLifer said:

calumnus said:

4thGenCal said:

Big C said:


I think, for now, they're announcing he'll miss the start of the season, while, for the time being, keeping their options open for later. I'd be surprised if he played, but who knows?
Extremely unlikely Jalen plays this season - it was a serious MCL/ACL injury and its typically minimum 12 months from surgery (assuming positive rehab and strengthening of ligaments). Jalen mentally wants to be ready in February, but even then it would be a stretch to put him out there and risk a set back. Great young man and wish the best for him. At most Jalen plays the following year before moving on. Likes his teammates and Berkeley, but its tough being far away from home and school (fine academically) is not his first or second love.


Thanks for your insight.

Celestine transferring out would be a blow. He is Fox's best recruit so far.
I totally missed that point in 4thGenCal's post. What another terrible blow to the program, and a further indictment of Fox and his recruiting. I remarked in a post on the free men's hoops board that it's never good to think that you have hit rock bottom, because some people will always find a way to make things worse. I guess this proves that out.

As per 4thGen's post, "the following year" would be Celestine's 4th year in the program. Maybe he would do like Kelly (stay for 4 years and a diploma). I'm okay with that.

By far Fox's biggest problem is not bringing in enough talent.
SFCityBear
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CalLifer said:

calumnus said:

4thGenCal said:

Big C said:


I think, for now, they're announcing he'll miss the start of the season, while, for the time being, keeping their options open for later. I'd be surprised if he played, but who knows?
Extremely unlikely Jalen plays this season - it was a serious MCL/ACL injury and its typically minimum 12 months from surgery (assuming positive rehab and strengthening of ligaments). Jalen mentally wants to be ready in February, but even then it would be a stretch to put him out there and risk a set back. Great young man and wish the best for him. At most Jalen plays the following year before moving on. Likes his teammates and Berkeley, but its tough being far away from home and school (fine academically) is not his first or second love.


Thanks for your insight.

Celestine transferring out would be a blow. He is Fox's best recruit so far.
I totally missed that point in 4thGenCal's post. What another terrible blow to the program, and a further indictment of Fox and his recruiting. I remarked in a post on the free men's hoops board that it's never good to think that you have hit rock bottom, because some people will always find a way to make things worse. I guess this proves that out.
If we are going to indict Fox for Celestine transferring (if he does transfer) then we have to indict most coaches, because nowadays 50% or more players transfer or leave school early.
SFCityBear
SFCityBear
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CalLifer said:

BC Calfan said:

Personally, no. He did his 4 years and graduated. Pretty rare for a player to stay at same school into post-grad.


I get your point. I personally thought there was more of a possibility he would stay (i.e. he wasn't precluded from staying by grad school degree issues or anything, and it was more of a choice between staying and moving on). If it was a choice, it's still a black mark on Fox in my view. I think it's rare for a player to stay at the same school post grad if he sees better opportunities elsewhere. If cal was a winning team and/or he loved playing for Fox, I don't think he'd be decamping to UCSB.
I believe Kelly stated in his farewell that he would be pursuing his Masters degree at Santa Barbara. That path, in the same field, might not have been available to him at Cal.
SFCityBear
HearstMining
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SFCityBear said:

CalLifer said:

calumnus said:

4thGenCal said:

Big C said:


I think, for now, they're announcing he'll miss the start of the season, while, for the time being, keeping their options open for later. I'd be surprised if he played, but who knows?
Extremely unlikely Jalen plays this season - it was a serious MCL/ACL injury and its typically minimum 12 months from surgery (assuming positive rehab and strengthening of ligaments). Jalen mentally wants to be ready in February, but even then it would be a stretch to put him out there and risk a set back. Great young man and wish the best for him. At most Jalen plays the following year before moving on. Likes his teammates and Berkeley, but its tough being far away from home and school (fine academically) is not his first or second love.


Thanks for your insight.

Celestine transferring out would be a blow. He is Fox's best recruit so far.
I totally missed that point in 4thGenCal's post. What another terrible blow to the program, and a further indictment of Fox and his recruiting. I remarked in a post on the free men's hoops board that it's never good to think that you have hit rock bottom, because some people will always find a way to make things worse. I guess this proves that out.
If we are going to indict Fox for Celestine transferring (if he does transfer) then we have to indict most coaches, because nowadays 50% or more players transfer or leave school early.
I realize these are the dog days of summer, but why is anybody worried about Celestine transferring two years from now? I like the guy, but he's hardly had a huge impact - he's miles behind Kelly or Bradley. I'll always root for Cal to win but there is NOBODY on the current team that I'd agonize about regarding a transfer. If somebody leaves and Fox can't find a better player as a replacement, maybe this will accelerate the AD's recognition that a change needs to be made.
HearstMining
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HearstMining said:

SFCityBear said:

CalLifer said:

calumnus said:

4thGenCal said:

Big C said:


I think, for now, they're announcing he'll miss the start of the season, while, for the time being, keeping their options open for later. I'd be surprised if he played, but who knows?
Extremely unlikely Jalen plays this season - it was a serious MCL/ACL injury and its typically minimum 12 months from surgery (assuming positive rehab and strengthening of ligaments). Jalen mentally wants to be ready in February, but even then it would be a stretch to put him out there and risk a set back. Great young man and wish the best for him. At most Jalen plays the following year before moving on. Likes his teammates and Berkeley, but its tough being far away from home and school (fine academically) is not his first or second love.


Thanks for your insight.

Celestine transferring out would be a blow. He is Fox's best recruit so far.
I totally missed that point in 4thGenCal's post. What another terrible blow to the program, and a further indictment of Fox and his recruiting. I remarked in a post on the free men's hoops board that it's never good to think that you have hit rock bottom, because some people will always find a way to make things worse. I guess this proves that out.
If we are going to indict Fox for Celestine transferring (if he does transfer) then we have to indict most coaches, because nowadays 50% or more players transfer or leave school early.
I realize these are the dog days of summer, but why is anybody worried about Celestine transferring a year from now? I like the guy, but he's hardly had a huge impact - he's miles behind Kelly or Bradley. I'll always root for Cal to win but there is NOBODY on the current team that I'd agonize about regarding a transfer. If somebody leaves and Fox can't find a better player as a replacement, maybe this will accelerate the AD's recognition that a change needs to be made.

SFCityBear
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HearstMining said:

HearstMining said:

SFCityBear said:

CalLifer said:

calumnus said:

4thGenCal said:

Big C said:


I think, for now, they're announcing he'll miss the start of the season, while, for the time being, keeping their options open for later. I'd be surprised if he played, but who knows?
Extremely unlikely Jalen plays this season - it was a serious MCL/ACL injury and its typically minimum 12 months from surgery (assuming positive rehab and strengthening of ligaments). Jalen mentally wants to be ready in February, but even then it would be a stretch to put him out there and risk a set back. Great young man and wish the best for him. At most Jalen plays the following year before moving on. Likes his teammates and Berkeley, but its tough being far away from home and school (fine academically) is not his first or second love.


Thanks for your insight.

Celestine transferring out would be a blow. He is Fox's best recruit so far.
I totally missed that point in 4thGenCal's post. What another terrible blow to the program, and a further indictment of Fox and his recruiting. I remarked in a post on the free men's hoops board that it's never good to think that you have hit rock bottom, because some people will always find a way to make things worse. I guess this proves that out.
If we are going to indict Fox for Celestine transferring (if he does transfer) then we have to indict most coaches, because nowadays 50% or more players transfer or leave school early.
I realize these are the dog days of summer, but why is anybody worried about Celestine transferring a year from now? I like the guy, but he's hardly had a huge impact - he's miles behind Kelly or Bradley. I'll always root for Cal to win but there is NOBODY on the current team that I'd agonize about regarding a transfer. If somebody leaves and Fox can't find a better player as a replacement, maybe this will accelerate the AD's recognition that a change needs to be made.


Did I sound worried about Celestine transferring? I'm not. Would I agonize over it? No. I didn't agonize over Bradley or Kelly transferring either. They played hard and well for us, but the decision to leave is a personal one, and really none of my business. What I care about, as far as college basketball is concerned, is the Cal team, and if a player does not have his heart in playing for our teams, then I'm fine with him going elsewhere. I've seen what a player looks like when he is not fully committed to playing for us, and his name was DJ Seeley, who sulked on the bench, and really dogged it when he did play. He transferred, and both Cal and he were the better for it.
SFCityBear
4thGenCal
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SFCityBear said:

HearstMining said:

HearstMining said:

SFCityBear said:

CalLifer said:

calumnus said:

4thGenCal said:

Big C said:


I think, for now, they're announcing he'll miss the start of the season, while, for the time being, keeping their options open for later. I'd be surprised if he played, but who knows?
Extremely unlikely Jalen plays this season - it was a serious MCL/ACL injury and its typically minimum 12 months from surgery (assuming positive rehab and strengthening of ligaments). Jalen mentally wants to be ready in February, but even then it would be a stretch to put him out there and risk a set back. Great young man and wish the best for him. At most Jalen plays the following year before moving on. Likes his teammates and Berkeley, but its tough being far away from home and school (fine academically) is not his first or second love.


Thanks for your insight.

Celestine transferring out would be a blow. He is Fox's best recruit so far.
I totally missed that point in 4thGenCal's post. What another terrible blow to the program, and a further indictment of Fox and his recruiting. I remarked in a post on the free men's hoops board that it's never good to think that you have hit rock bottom, because some people will always find a way to make things worse. I guess this proves that out.
If we are going to indict Fox for Celestine transferring (if he does transfer) then we have to indict most coaches, because nowadays 50% or more players transfer or leave school early.
I realize these are the dog days of summer, but why is anybody worried about Celestine transferring a year from now? I like the guy, but he's hardly had a huge impact - he's miles behind Kelly or Bradley. I'll always root for Cal to win but there is NOBODY on the current team that I'd agonize about regarding a transfer. If somebody leaves and Fox can't find a better player as a replacement, maybe this will accelerate the AD's recognition that a change needs to be made.


Did I sound worried about Celestine transferring? I'm not. Would I agonize over it? No. I didn't agonize over Bradley or Kelly transferring either. They played hard and well for us, but the decision to leave is a personal one, and really none of my business. What I care about, as far as college basketball is concerned, is the Cal team, and if a player does not have his heart in playing for our teams, then I'm fine with him going elsewhere. I've seen what a player looks like when he is not fully committed to playing for us, and his name was DJ Seeley, who sulked on the bench, and really dogged it when he did play. He transferred, and both Cal and he were the better for it.
Just to be clear, Celestine has not indicated he would transfer at all. His interest in studying/classes is minimal. Does not enjoy the grind of school He is a smart young man, happy with playing bball (when healthy) He just wants to move on from college, as soon as he earns his degree. This likely future decision, is not an indictment of the staff.
calumnus
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BC Calfan said:

For all his faults, undergrad player retention isn't one we can pin on Fox. Bradley is the only one and that's a doozy. I'm actually impressed with player loyalty to Fox given the losing. BUT, if players, especially undergrads, start leaving then that REALLY has to put him on thin ice? Right??


Of the players on the team when he arrived, Fox retained one starter, three players total? The vast majority transfered out. Brown was a Wyking commit who stayed committed and has stayed 4 years, so he counts for retention. Other than that it is one player, Antecevich, that completed his eligibility under Fox? Everyone else transferred. Most of Fox's recruits have stayed, but few have other options in the portal. Maybe a couple were asked to leave?

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