Inside The Huskies

Claude's Health Gives Out, Guard Steps Away From Huskies

He played in just 12 games for the UW as his injuries multiplied.
Dan Raley|
Desmond Claude mixes it up against Utah.
Desmond Claude mixes it up against Utah. | Dave Sizer photo

As Desmond Claude sat out recent games or played very little for the University of Washington basketball team, the explanation was brief.

Personal reasons.

Coaches' decision.

On Friday night, the 6-foot-6 guard put it all out in the open in great detail and the news wasn't good for him or the Huskies at all.

Claude announced he was stepping away from the team because his preseason ankle sprain -- which he described as Grade 3 with two torn ligaments and a partial third -- had morphed into far worse health complications that wouldn't permit him to continue.

"While my recovery initially seemed to exceed expectations, over the past several weeks I've been playing through unbearable pain, swelling and have suffered a subsequent additional injury to me knee," Claude posted.

He didn't say this, but with 14 more regular-season games and whatever Big Ten and other tournament play involves the Huskies, it's probably safe to assume his Husky career is over after 12 games.

In Wednesday night's 82-72 loss to Michigan, Claude played nine minutes, took one shot and went scoreless.

He limps away with a 13.3-point scoring average, put together with 42.6 percent shooting from the floor.

He was injured during preseason practice and sat out the Huskies' first four games.

Desmond Claude brings the ball up the floor against Utah.
Desmond Claude brings the ball up the floor against Utah. | Dave Sizer photo

Claude had his moments, scoring 20 points against Southern in his season debut, in a 99-93 double-overtime victory; 22 in an 84-76 road win over USC, his former team; a season-high 24 in a 70-66 loss to Seattle U; and 21 in 74-65 win over Utah.

Claude came to the Huskies with fellow guard Wesley Yates III from USC and expected to be one of the team leaders, if the main guy.

Yet now he's better off not playing and healing that damaged ankle so he can pursue an NBA career. He certainly has the height, savvy and offensive moves to make it in the pros.

As for the rest of his time in Montlake, he'll be watching from the bench and spending a lot of time in the training room.

Claude closed his statement with the following: "Therefore today, I've met with my coaching staff to inform them that due to ongoing complications from that injury, i must step away from all on-court activities and prioritize my health."

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Dan Raley
DAN RALEY

Dan Raley has worked for the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, as well as for MSN.com and Boeing, the latter as a global aerospace writer. His sportswriting career spans four decades and he's covered University of Washington football and basketball during much of that time. In a working capacity, he's been to the Super Bowl, the NBA Finals, the MLB playoffs, the Masters, the U.S. Open, the PGA Championship and countless Final Fours and bowl games.

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