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Duke’s Rodney Hood suffers right Achilles injury in USA Basketball practice

Duke fans have an anxious 24 hours ahead of them as they await a more extensive update regarding the severity of an injury forward Rodney Hood suffered Wednesday night during USA Basketball training camp in Colorado Springs.

Hood suffered an undisclosed right Achilles injury while trying to make the final 12-man roster for the U.S. World University Games team.

A source with knowledge of the situation said Thursday that Duke is optimistic Hood's injury is not a tear but rather a sprain or strain, neither of which would be season-threatening. SI.com's Andy Glockner spoke briefly to Hood before learning of the injury and said he did not appear to be in any huge distress.

It's critical for Duke to have Hood healthy because the Mississippi State transfer figures to be one of the top weapons for a Blue Devils team likely to begin the new season in the top 10 in the polls.

Hood, once Rivals.com's No. 16 recruit in the Class of 2011, showed flashes of big potential as a freshman at Mississippi State when he averaged 10.3 points and 4.8 rebounds despite being only the Bulldogs' third or fourth offensive option. The highly touted transfer sat out this past season and will almost certainly start at forward for perimeter-heavy Duke next year alongside prized freshman Jabari Parker.

Hood reportedly had a visible limp Thursday while sitting out USA Basketball practice. Duke fans can only hope those symptoms get better sooner than later.

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