Senior guard Ike Smith has been out due to injury since December and Monday Head Coach Mark Byington announced he will be sitting out for the rest of the season.

Smith will be seeking a medical hardship waiver which will hopefully grant the valuable Eagle another season of eligibility.

Smith only played the first 10 games of the season prior to being injured in December. In those ten games the guard notched 147 points as well as averaging 14.7 points per game.

In his career at Georgia Southern Smith has proven to be an important offensive player as he’s tallied 1,480 career points as well as shooting an overall field-goal percentage of 43.5. Smith is also valuable to the defense with 492 total rebounds, 56 career blocks, and 94 steals.

“We definitely wish Ike was able to play again this season, but this is the best thing for him,” Byington said in a press release. “I believe Ike is one the top players in the Sun Belt, but even without Ike, I feel we can still win a championship. He is progressing well in his rehab and will be 100 percent recovered by next year.”

The Eagles will be continuing their season at home on Wednesday as they take on conference opponent South Alabama.

Kaitlin Sells, The George-Anne Sports Editor, gasports@georgiasouthern.edu