Three Men’s Basketball Player to Miss the Remainder of 2023-24 Season

Canisius head men's basketball coach Reggie Witherspoon announced Sunday that sophomore Tahj Staveskie, junior Xzavier Long and graduate student Joe Jones III will miss the remainder of the 2023-24 season with lower-body injuries.

"This is obviously disappointing for us as a team, and for these three young men who worked so hard to prepare and play this year," Witherspoon said. "Throughout the entire season, we have listed the status of Tahj and Xzavier as 'week-to-week' because it was our hope that they would be able to return to the floor and contribute to our team. But after consulting with our athletic training staff and various medical professionals, the difficult decision was made to officially shut them down for the rest of the season."

Staveskie, a Preseason Second Team All-MAAC selection, played in the first two games of the 2023-24 campaign and has been out since the team's victory at St. Bonaventure Nov. 11. Long, a Preseason All-MAAC Third Team choice, has not appeared in any games this season after undergoing a medical procedure in the middle of October. Both players attempted to rejoin the team during practice in mid-December, but their injuries precluded them from taking part in any further game action.

Jones III played 2:31 in the first half of the Griffs' season-opener at Syracuse Nov. 8, before he injured his knee while going up for a field goal attempt. He underwent successful knee surgery in mid-January.

All three student-athletes are enrolled at Canisius and all three are still a part of day-to-day team activities.

"Tahj, Xzavier and Joe are all very important voices in our locker room and on our bench," Witherspoon said. "They are fully invested in what we are doing here and their energy and excitement is an important part of our team."

Canisius will play its next two games on the road, starting today (Feb. 4) when the team takes on Quinnipiac. Game time in Hamden, Conn., is set for 2 p.m., and the game will be broadcast live on ESPN+. The Canisius radio call will be available for free through the Golden Griffin Broadcast Network at GoGriffs.com and the Varsity Network app, with the M&T Bank Pregame Show set to begin at 1:40 p.m.

Like Canisius Athletics on Facebook
Follow @GoGriffs and @Griffs_MBB on X
Follow @GoGriffs and @Griffs_MBB on Instagram

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#25 Xzavier Long: F; 6' 7"; Junior

#44 Tahj Staveskie: G; 6' 0"; Sophomore

#15 Joe Jones III: F; 6' 10"; Graduate Student

Players Mentioned

#25 Xzavier Long
: 6' 7"; Junior
: F

#44 Tahj Staveskie
: 6' 0"; Sophomore
: G

#15 Joe Jones III
: 6' 10"; Graduate Student
: F

Players Mentioned

#25 Xzavier Long

#44 Tahj Staveskie

#15 Joe Jones III

Players Mentioned

#25 Xzavier Long

#44 Tahj Staveskie

#15 Joe Jones III