Arthroscopic Knee Surgery Will Sideline UCLA’s Givens

UCLA sophomore omm’A Givens had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Friday and the reserve center probably will be sidelined for the rest of the season, Coach Jim Harrick said.

Givens, who injured the knee in practice Feb. 5, has not played in the three games since. Harrick said Givens tried to play through the pain, but couldn’t run laterally.

“When they got in there, they found pieces that came off a very, very tender part of the knee,” Harrick said after practice Friday afternoon. “We thought originally two to three weeks, but after they got in there, he’s probably out for the year now.”

The surgery was performed by team physician Gerald Finerman at the UCLA Medical Center.

Givens came to UCLA as the most highly touted of a four-player freshman class last season but has not started a regular-season game. Harrick, who said Bob Myers and J.R. Henderson will continue to back up Jelani McCoy, said he didn’t consider the injury much of a setback for Givens.

“If he recovers and is healthy, it’s not too much--if he works hard in the off-season on his game,” Harrick said.