Fans have noticed that for the past two games, senior forward Devan Cambridge has not been with the Texas Tech basketball program. Now, on Thursday, we learned that the second-year Red Raider has left the program to seek a medical hardship waiver.
In an official statement, head coach Grant McCasland said, "Devan is seeking a medical hardship waiver and is no longer with the team. We are thankful for his contributions to our basketball program."
Last season, his first as a Red Raider after transferring in from Arizona State, Cambridge played in only eight games before tearing a ligament in his knee. Thus, he was granted an extra year of eligibility.
Over the offseason, he worked his way back to health and he was ready to play when the season began early last month. That was a bit of a surprise given the severity of his injury.
Breaking: Grant McCasland statement regarding Devan Cambridge:
— KTXT Sports 🌵 (@KTXT_Sports) December 5, 2024
- “Devan is seeking a medical hardship waiver and is no longer with the team. We are thankful for his contributions to our basketball program.”
This season, Cambridge had appeared in six games. He was averaging 5.5 points and 3.5 rebounds per game in 17.7 minutes of action.
However, it was clear that he is still either rusty from all the time away from the court or still not 100% healthy. When he was on the floor, it simply looked like the game was moving a bit too fast for him.
It is disappointing that the injury had cut Cambridge's Red Raider career short. That's because, before the injury, he was an effective player.
At the time he went down last season, he was averaging 10.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. What's more, his athleticism allowed him to guard almost any position on the court.
It was thought that he would be a key reserve this season and that he could provide some help in the post where Tech is a little thin. But without him in the mix, sophomore Eemeli Yalaho will likely step into the role that Cambridge was going to play.
The 6-foot-8 forward from Finland has appeared only two games this year but a season ago, when Tech needed more depth in the post due to a rash of injuries, he performed well. From February 24 until the end of the Big 12 Tournament, he played double-digit minutes in six of seven games.
During that time, he averaged 5.6 points and 3.4 rebounds per game which is essentially what Cambridge was putting up this year. Now, he may get his shot to shine again with Cambridge off of the roster.