Hoyas' Wright Is Likely Out for Season

Georgetown Coach John Thompson III said yesterday he is not optimistic freshman Chris Wright will play again this season because of an injured right foot.

"In my head, I have to proceed as if he's not going to be back, and then if he does, he is," Thompson said. "I don't think that's going to be happening. We made the decision along with him and his family just to be overly cautious."

Wright, a three-time All-Met from St. John's, broke his right foot while playing pickup basketball in late September and had surgery, but he was cleared to play by the start of the season. He then rolled his right ankle at practice on Jan. 4, an injury that Thompson initially described as "nothing major."

A week later, Wright felt discomfort in the foot. He has not been practicing, though he was dribbling and shooting the ball yesterday, which Thompson was quick to point out that Wright shouldn't be doing.

The 6-foot-1 guard was averaging 6.2 points and 2.3 assists in 17.9 minutes as a reserve for the ninth-ranked Hoyas (15-2, 5-1). He is ineligible for a medical redshirt because he played in 11 games, which is more than 30 percent of Georgetown's scheduled contests.

"It's definitely frustrating, because you know you could produce out there if you were playing, but at the same time, there's nothing you can do about it," Wright said. "You have to move on and be happy for your teammates that are out there. . . . That's the biggest thing."

Thompson also said the Hoyas might redshirt freshman forward Nikita Mescheriakov. Mescheriakov, who played at St. John's-Prospect Hall, was ruled ineligible for the first 10 games of the season because he briefly played for, but was not compensated by, a professional team in his native Belarus. He has yet to play this season.