Vranes Out for the Season, Meads to Miss a Month

PROVO -- BYU junior guard Michael Vranes will miss the entire 2000-01 season after having foot surgery Friday and freshman forward Garner Meads will be out for up to four weeks due to a lung injury sustained Thursday.

Vranes (6-3, 190), a two-year starter and BYU's third leading scorer last season, has not played since a spring injury to his left foot. After undergoing surgery in September his foot did not heal, requiring a second surgery Friday. While his long-term status is still in question, he definitely will not play this season. He has already used a medical redshirt season in 1996-97 for an injury to his right foot.

Meads (6-8, 215), a McDonald's High School All-American, was hurt Thursday at practice when he took a charge from fellow freshman Derek Dawes (6-11, 255). After suffering shortness of breath, he was taken to Utah Valley Regional Medical Center, where doctors found a small rupture in his lung. The injury will require Meads to abstain from any physical activity for two weeks and from playing basketball for an additional two weeks. A challenging setback for a freshman with only five practices under his belt, Meads likely will not return until the team's exhibition season is nearly completed.

BYU opens the regular season Nov. 21 at home against the Big South's Elon College.