FAYETTEVILLE — Former Arkansas guard Michael Qualls was projected as a second-round pick for tonight’s NBA Draft before tearing an anterior cruciate ligament in his knee June 11 while working out for the Phoenix Suns.
Now Qualls, an All-SEC second-team pick who bypassed his senior season to enter the draft, may not be picked, although he remains hopeful of hearing his name called.
“I know I can’t go in right away and help a team out,” Qualls told Gary Parrish of CBSSports.com. “But I feel like if a team will stay patient and diligent with me through this process, it’ll be a great choice for them.”
Qualls, 6-6, likely will undergo surgery in a few days and is expected to be sidelined six to nine months. He injured his knee when he landed awkwardly going up to contest a shot. He told reporters after the workout he “had a little spill” and it was “nothing serious.”
When Qualls flew to Los Angeles to work out for the Lakers and couldn’t go on the knee, he underwent an MRI that revealed the ligament tear.
“Minor setback for craziest come back you’ve ever seen,” Qualls posted on his Twitter account.
Qualls averaged 15.9 points and 5.3 rebounds as a junior for the Razorbacks and in his last game scored 27 points against North Carolina in the NCAA Tournament. At the NBA Combine, he measured 4 percent body fat — lowest among all players attending — and had a 39 1/2-inch vertical jump with a 7-foot wingspan.