Nutt, Redhawks suffer first loss of season

~ Southeast's top recruit likely will miss the 2009-10 season.

The Southeast Missouri State men's basketball team already has suffered a major blow before Dickey Nutt coaches his first game with the Redhawks.

Leon Powell, Nutt's top signee for the 2009-10 season, suffered a knee injury during a pickup game in St. Louis several weeks ago and likely will miss the entire campaign.

Powell, a 6-foot-7, 210-pound forward, played the past two seasons at perennial national junior college power Indian Hills in Iowa.

"There's no question it's disappointing," said Nutt, hired as Southeast's coach in March. "Any time one of your players gets injured, it's always disappointing news."

Nutt said he has received conflicting reports whether Powell suffered a fully torn ACL or a partial tear, but sources told the Southeast Missourian that it is a full tear and he definitely will miss the entire season. Powell could not be reached for comment.

Powell has a redshirt year available, meaning he still would have two seasons of eligibility remaining even if he doesn't play in 2009-10.

Nutt stopped short of saying for certain that Powell won't be able to play this season, but he indicated there is a strong chance of that.

Nutt said Powell has not had surgery yet, which likely will take place in the next few weeks.

Because Powell officially won't be on scholarship at Southeast until classes begin next month, he is not covered yet by university insurance.

"He kind of falls through the cracks with that, since his junior college insurance has ended and our insurance hasn't started yet," Nutt said. "He's having to rely on his family insurance, and he's trying to get all that worked out.

"We're trying to help him as much as we can, within NCAA rules. Right now our main concern is for Leon, that he gets this taken care of and his rehab goes well. He's a fine young man and we're still looking forward to having him in our program."

Powell averaged 11.5 points and 6.1 rebounds per game as a sophomore for an Indian Hills squad that went 30-3 and was ranked second nationally. He shot 61.8 percent from the field.

Powell, a St. Louis native who played for national high school power Vashon, earned all-region second-team honors the past two seasons at Indian Hills.

Powell is among six signees for next season, four from junior college and two from high school.

"We're not going to let it ruin us," Nutt said of Powell possibly missing the entire season. "It's part of the business."