A Healthy Gunter Now Needs Clearance From Cleveland Coach

After spending all of his senior year watching his Cleveland High teammates play basketball, Sean Gunter is healthy and ready to play. So says his physician.

But his coach has a different view.

Gunter (6-foot, 175 pounds) was expected to play a key role with the Cavaliers this season but sustained a broken bone in his left foot a few days before the season. Gunter was a starter in summer-league play and would have shared time with Brandon Martin, Kenny Collins and Carlos Vasquez, the area’s best backcourt combination. The Cavaliers (16-5) are ranked No. 1 in the region by The Times.

Even though Gunter has been medically cleared to play, Cleveland Coach Kevin Crider said that he is not ready to let Gunter try his luck in a live game. Cleveland faces Kennedy on Thursday and will have only two games remaining thereafter in regular-season play.

“I doubt that I’ll let him play,” Crider said. “He has no idea what we’re doing. He doesn’t know the system.

“Kenny and a couple of others would rest a little bit more with Sean playing, but I don’t want him to go from doing nothing to doing too much. . . . He’s still a ways away (from being ready).”

Gunter, who was cleared by his family physician Monday and has been practicing with the team, said he feels ready to roll.

“I’ve been waiting a long time,” Gunter said. “Last season, I couldn’t wait until my senior year, and then I broke my foot. I can’t wait to get started.”

Cleveland could probably use the additional depth when the City Section 4-A Division playoffs begin Feb. 15. In two victories last week, the Cavalier bench accounted for only 15 of the team’s 175 points (8.6%). Thirteen points came from Kayheed Murray, a starter who was benched for one game.