BYU's Jahshire Hardnett sidelined against Portland due to injured hand

PROVO — Junior guard Jahshire Hardnett was dressed and sitting on the bench for BYU's 79-56 win Thursday night against Portland. But he didn't play due to a hand injury.

It was the latest twist in what was a strange week for Hardnett and the Cougar basketball program.

According to an internet report earlier in the week, a frustrated Hardnett had quit the team and was going to transfer. He missed practices Monday and Tuesday.

“It was planned to play him if he could. Now, we’ve been put on a watch. Hopefully, it’s quick.”

BYU coach Dave Rose on injured guard Jahshire Hardnett

But Rose told reporters Wednesday that Hardnett was back practicing with the team.

"Jahshire and I talk every week. We have long conversations," he said. "We've got a really good relationship as far as understanding each other. I know exactly what he wants and he knows exactly what I want. We're both committed to the same thing. I'm looking forward to moving on."

What Rose didn't tell reporters Wednesday was that Hardnett had suffered an injured hand in the loss at Saint Mary's last Saturday.

"When you look at his practice (Wednesday), he was really favoring it. He's a tough kid," Rose said Thursday of Hardnett. "He played last year a lot with a broken finger. He came into my office (Thursday afternoon) and said, 'This is really causing me issues.' It was planned to play him if he could. Now, we've been put on a watch. Hopefully, it's quick."

Just prior to tipoff, Hardnett, who had a wrap on his left hand, didn't participate in warmups.

YOELI ON WATCH LISTS: BYU junior forward Yoeli Childs was named to the 2018-19 Lute Olson Award Mid-Season Watch List presented by CollegeInsider.com. The award is presented annually to the nation's top Division I player in college basketball.

Childs has started all 17 games for the Cougars and was averaging team highs of 21.6 points and 10.3 rebounds per game going into Thursday's contest.

Childs is also shooting 54.2 percent from the field and has 11 double-doubles. Nationally, Childs is tied for third in double-doubles, tied for 15th in rebounding and is 21st in scoring. In the BYU record book, Childs has climbed to 24th in career scoring, 16th in rebounds and fifth in blocks.

Jimmer Fredette (2010, 2011) and Kyle Collinsworth (2015) have been finalists for the award and were named to the Lute Olson All-America team in each of those seasons.

from Deseret News http://bit.ly/2VJl6Vv