UCLA Basketball: Bruins Recruit Could Miss Up to 3 Months with Thumb Injury

Kyle Anderson, the No. 3-ranked player in the nation for the Class of 2012 according to Rivals.com, could miss up to three months if he elects to undergo surgery to repair torn ligaments in his thumb.

The New Jersey native first injured the thumb in March, "during the last practice before the New Jersey North Non-Public B state final," recruiting analyst Adam Zagoria reported in his blog.

Anderson then re-injured the thumb during practice for the McDonald's All-American Game, which took place on March 28. The 6'9" guard/forward appeared to show few ill effects during the game itself, scoring 13 points and collecting eight rebounds, eight assists and four steals.

However, Dr. Mark W. Urquhart found torn ligaments in the thumb from an MRI and has suggested surgery for the UCLA-bound Anderson.

Anderson has already signed his letter of intent to play for Ben Howland in L.A. next season. His father has said he will seek a second opinion regarding a potential operation.

Anderson is part of an incoming freshmen class that has been ranked No. 1 by most recruiting sites. (Shabazz Muhammad, Jordan Adams and Tony Parker are the other ones.)

Should he opt for surgery, he would likely hope to be back playing a couple months before the season. Ample time to get his legs ready for action—not to mention his thumb.