USC announced today that redshirt freshman Kasey Cunningham will miss the remainder of the season after being diagnosed with an ACL and lateral meniscus tear. The forward, who suffered the injury this week in practice, will undergo surgery to repair the damage within the next few weeks, and rehabilitation is expected to last up to nine months.

Cunningham suffered the same injury (to the same knee) while a senior in high school, and spent his first season at USC recovering from that injury. His absence will likely mean more playing time for juniors RouSean Cromwell and/or Keith Wilkinson, and possibly freshman Mamadou Diarra, depending on how he progresses after recovering from his own injury.

In other basketball news, the LA Times is reporting that class of 2008 recruit Malik Story has been kicked out of his prep school as a result of an “undisclosed incident.” The guard has so far failed to qualify academically to attend USC, and his future with the Trojans may be in jeopardy.

USC Forward Cunningham Suffers ACL Tear (Official USC site)
Cunningham is out for season with re-injury (LA Times)