Xavier forward Jerome Hunter out with medical issue, no timetable for return

Xavier University forward Jerome Hunter will be sidelined indefinitely with an undisclosed medical issue, the school announced Tuesday.

"Jerome Hunter is dealing with a medical issue that has sidelined him from all on-court basketball activities. Our medical team is working with Jerome to navigate a path for his return to full health. His timeline for a return to basketball will be established at a later time," the school said in a statement.

Xavier head coach Sean Miller said in a Tweet: "We are fully committed to supporting Jerome (Hunter). Nothing is more important than the health and well-being of our players. Our team and staff stand united in offering him the care and encouragement that he needs as he works his way back to playing the game that he loves."

Hunter, a Columbus, Ohio, native, is expected to be one of the key returners for Sean Miller's Musketeers on a roster with plenty of turnover from last year's Sweet 16 squad.

Hunter announced in April that he was using his extra year of eligibility to return to Xavier for a third season after spending his first two collegiate years at Indiana University.

Over 37 games last season, Hunter averaged 7.8 points and 4.4 rebounds per game for the Musketeers. He shifted into a larger role for Xavier after Zach Freemantle suffered a season-ending foot injury in January.

Entering the starting lineup with Freemantle sidelined, Hunter averaged 10.3 points and 5.9 rebounds over 15 games. He was Xavier's leading scorer during the NCAA Tournament, pouring in a season-high 24 points in the Musketeers' first-round win over Kennesaw State.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Jerome Hunter out with medical issue, no timetable for return