Aug. 3—Dayton Flyers fans mostly know Jaron McKie from seeing him on the bench or standing at center court during his first season while the rest of the team warmed up before games.
Not every freshman contributes right away. Jaiun Simon, for example, sat out his freshman season because there wasn't room for him in the rotation. Now he's expected to play a significant role for the second straight season. Obi Toppin missed his freshman season because of academic reasons and won all the national player of the year awards in his third season at Dayton.
The list of players who missed their entire freshman season because of an injury without even appearing in an exhibition game is much shorter.
McKie, a 6-foot-3 guard from St. Joseph's Prep in Philadelphia, is the only one on that list in the last 13 years. Marvel Allen played in two exhibition games before the 2023-24 season and then suffered an injury that would lead to the decision to redshirt him.
McKie underwent left shoulder surgery in October and didn't practice or play in the 2025-26 season.
#freshman #injury
Not every freshman contributes right away. Jaiun Simon, for example, sat out his freshman season because there wasn't room for him in the rotation. Now he's expected to play a significant role for the second straight season. Obi Toppin missed his freshman season because of academic reasons and won all the national player of the year awards in his third season at Dayton.
The list of players who missed their entire freshman season because of an injury without even appearing in an exhibition game is much shorter.
McKie, a 6-foot-3 guard from St. Joseph's Prep in Philadelphia, is the only one on that list in the last 13 years. Marvel Allen played in two exhibition games before the 2023-24 season and then suffered an injury that would lead to the decision to redshirt him.
McKie underwent left shoulder surgery in October and didn't practice or play in the 2025-26 season.
#freshman #injury
3 months ago
