On Tuesday, Southern Miss guard Neftali Alverez announced an injury that will bench him for an extended, undisclosed amount of time on his personal Instagram.
The post read:
“Learning to understand that your processes are bigger than mine. Today we are down and tomorrow we’re up, that’s how life works. #12 IS OUT, BUT AIN’T OVER YET!! Third surgery in 3 years, BUT I’M STRONG ENOUGH. After this post I’m out from social media for couple months. I decide to be out of social media and work on my mental health and my comeback. ALWAYS REMEMBER, GOD GIVES BACK TO YOU MORE THAN HE TAKES AWAY FROM YOU!! Eagle Nation see y’all next yr I’ll be back 🦅”
The Puerto Rico native played in just 15 games for the Golden Eagles last season but proved vital in each contest.
He averaged 25.4 minutes per game, 7.8 ppg, and 2.9 assists per game. He is an essential player and leader on the team who has seen his career be riddled with injuries.
“They went in and replaced a screw,” Southern Miss head coach Jay Ladner said after Tuesday’s exhibition match. “It was the most benign thing. It happened when he was just shuffling his feet. Our first thought was it was the same injury, but they went and did a CT scan of it, and it’s not the same injury. They went ahead and immediately had surgery, and they think he will be ready in about ten weeks.”
He played in the first three games of the season before missing over two months before returning in late January. The team also missed his presence at the 2023 Sun Belt Men’s Basketball tournament and missed him in their first-round action of the NIT tournament.
“I’m glad he made the decision [for surgery],” Southern Miss guard Austin Crowley said after Tuesday’s victory over Delta State in an exhibition match. “I wish I was out there with him because he’s such a great competitor and someone you want on your side. But, just for him to be happy is all I want. As long as he is happy, we are good.”
He was thought to be a starter and, if healthy, had the potential to be a Sun Belt first-teamer.
Follow Dima Mixon (@dima_mixon) for coverage of Southern Miss athletics.
