SoCalHoops College News

Fullerton Takes A Double Hit: Harmon
Injured, Castleton Ineligible--(Oct. 19, 2000)

Geez, the season hasn't even started, but the injuries just keep on coming. . .  Yesterday it was David Bluthenthal and Robert Hutchinson. . . . today it's Cal State Fullerton's Ike Harmon.   The Associated Press is reporting tonight that Harmon, a three-year starter for Cal State Fullerton who just recently gained a 5th year of eligibility after completing his degree in four years (he started as a Prop. 48),  has suffered a stress fracture in his left foot and will be out at least three weeks. Harmon was injured in practice Tuesday, and will be X-rayed in three weeks when his situation will then be re-evaluated. "Obviously, this puts him behind," Fullerton coach Donny Daniels said Thursday. "But once he gets better, and that's our main concern, he will definitely get back up to speed."

The 6-foot-7 Harmon has averaged 16.6 points and 6.9 rebounds in his career, but has had an assortment of foot problems that have limited his practice time, but only occasionally kept him out of games. Fullerton also announced Thursday that junior guard David Castleton, who transferred to Fullerton from Orange Coast College after playing football at BYU as a freshman will not be eligible to play for the Titans until the end of the current semester. Castleton is a walk-on for the Titans this year, due to the final year of NCAA probation which prevents them from offering scholarships to JC transfers through the end of this season.

Here are the two official press releases from Fullerton on the subject of Harmon and Castleton:

Castleton Not Eligible Until Second Semester

OCT. 19 – Junior guard David Castleton will not be eligible to play basketball at Cal State Fullerton until the end of the current semester.  

The transfer from Orange Coast College is allowed to practice but will not be certified eligible to play until at least the last day of the university's final exams or Dec. 16. He will miss a minimum of seven games.

The Mater Dei High School basketball and football star originally attended Brigham Young University. At OCC last season he led the Orange Empire Conference in scoring with a 22.6 points per game average. In football he was a third-team All-American and All-Orange Empire Conference selectin after catching 53 passes for 958 yards and four touchdowns.

Fullerton has only reserve Josh Pierson returning from last year's backcourt and Castleton was projected as the probable starting point guard for new Coach Donny Daniels.

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Harmon Suffers Stress Fracture in Left Foot

OCT. 19 – Forward Ike Harmon will be lost to the Cal State Fullerton basketball team for at least three weeks after suffering a stress fracture in his left foot. The injury to the fifth metatarsal occurred in practice on Oct. 17. He will be X-rayed again in three weeks at which time his situation will be re-evaluated.

"Obviously, this puts him behind," said Head Coach Donny Daniels of the three-year letterman and team's leading scorer and rebounder of the last two seasons. "But once he gets better, and that's our main concern, he will definitely get back up to speed."

Harmon (6-foot-7, Santa Ana Valley HS) spent a whirlwind summer passing 21 units to earn his bachelor's degree in criminal justice in August, which under new NCAA legislation allowed him to regain a lost year of eligibility. Delays in getting enrolled in Fall classes prevented him from attending organized conditioning drills with the team and his concentration on academics in the summer left little time for basketball.

Harmon has been a starter for the past three seasons and has career averages of 16.6 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. He was a first-team All-Big West Conference selection in 1998-99 and earned second-team honors last season.

He has suffered through an assortment of foot problems that have limited his practice time but only occasionally kept him out of games.

 
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