UCF’s men’s basketball team took the floor for the first time this fall, staging a home exhibition against Florida Gulf Coast Sunday. The Knights won 92-78, but an injury was more notable than the final score.
Senior guard Jaylin Sellers, UCF’s leading scorer from last year, went down with an injury in the second half and exited via stretcher. He did not return.
Near the 15:30 mark of the second half, Sellers received a pass on the right wing. He dribbled left, making contact with Eagles guard Zavian McLean. Sellers then hobbed a few steps toward midcourt before gingerly laying down on his stomach.
He remained on the hardwood for multiple minutes before being transported off.
During the 2023-24 season, Sellers averaged 15.9 points per game. He started 32 of 33 contests as the Knights went 17-16 and made the National Invitation Tournament.
In August of 2023, he broke his left hand and underwent surgery on it. He said last week he dealt with a swollen shooting hand the entire season and did not feel 100% until May.
“It was very frustrating because I feel like I want to go out there and perform to my best abilities while also feeling good,” Sellers said at UCF basketball media day Thursday. “Some games, I didn’t feel good, but I still had to fight through it. It helped me mentally, but it was most definitely frustrating missing shots I would usually make.”
Sellers spent the first two years of his college career at Ball State.
UCF will open the regular season on Nov. 4 at Addition Financial Arena in Orlando. The opponent: ranked Texas A&M.
