Nov. 10, 2006

Duquesne University head men's basketball coach Ron Everhart announced today that 6-10, 240-pound junior forward/center Kieron Achara (Stirling, Scotland/Maine Central Institute) has been diagnosed with stress fractures in his left foot and will be out indefinitely.

Achara will have the foot immobilized for two weeks and will have the injury reevaluated at the end of that two-week period.

"We were hoping it was just a sprain in his foot, but an MRI he had late yesterday showed three stress fractures," said Everhart. "Kieron is a great kid with a great work ethic. It is unfortunate because he worked so hard this summer. He lost 34 pounds and was in the best shape of his life. I do know this, Kieron is a tough-minded young man who will work very hard at rehabilitating his foot. With his work ethic, I'm sure he'll be back as soon as medically possible."

Achara, the 2004-05 Atlantic 10 Chris Daniels Award winner as the league's most-improved player, had his 2005-06 season ended prematurely by surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder. Achara, who injured the shoulder in a preseason scrimmage, played in three games before having surgery last December.

He spent 4-6 months rehabilitating the shoulder this spring and summer.

"Obviously this is unfortunate news," said Achara. "Adversity happens. The true test is how you fight through it. I am determined to work hard and do whatever the doctors ask of me so I can be back as soon as possible."

Achara led Duquesne in field goal percentage and blocked shots as a freshman and sophomore. His 52.4 career field goal mark ranks sixth on DU's all-time list.

Duquesne opens the 2006-07 season on Monday, Nov. 13 versus Youngstown State at the Palumbo Center.