Schadrac Casimir out for season

Schadrac Casimir, last season's MAAC Rookie of the Year, was ruled out for remainder of season after undergoing hip surgery. (Photo courtesy of Brian Beyrer via Iona College Athletics)

After getting A.J. English and Kelvin Amayo back in the fold three days ago, Iona will now have to endure the remainder of the season without another integral piece of the puzzle.

Schadrac Casimir, last season's Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year, will miss the final three months of the year for the Gaels, head coach Tim Cluess announced following Iona's 65-52 victory over Niagara on Monday.

Casimir, who played in four games and had been inactive since December 4, has torn labrums in both hips, and according to Josh Thomson of The Journal News, underwent his first of two surgeries on Monday. An Iona athletic department spokesperson later confirmed to A Daly Dose Of Hoops that the college anticipates applying for a medical hardship waiver for Casimir to retain sophomore eligibility in 2016-17. Should the waiver be approved, which it most likely will since Casimir played in less than 30 percent of the Gaels' contests, he would have three remaining years of eligibility beginning in November.

"We don't know when it all started," Cluess stated in regard to the possible origin of Casimir's malady. "It affected him throughout the season. We were not sure if he was going to be able to play through it and then take care of it after the year or not. He went for a second opinion, and the doctor told him the best way to take care of it was with surgery."

Casimir had averaged just 6.3 points per game in his four contests, and went scoreless against Fairfield on December 1 in what will be his last appearance of the season. His injury was initially believed to be a groin issue, which is how Cluess described it following Iona's 101-77 victory over the Stags, when the sophomore had to be taken out.