TCU PG Jaylen Fisher out for the season, leaving basketball program

Jaylen Fisher has not suited up for the Horned Frogs since Big 12 play began, dealing with more swelling and complications from meniscus surgery last year. Thursday, TCU Basketball announced that he would be out for the remainder of the season and no longer a part of the program.

Fisher, who missed the first couple games of the year prior to making his return in impressive fashion, hasn’t played since the Frogs’ turn in the Diamond Head Classic, held over the holidays in Hawaii. Upon returning to the mainland, the swelling issues that had plagued him earlier in the year returned, and he sat out the first four games of conference play trying to get right.

“After talking with Jaylen, it’s been determined that he will not play this season or in the future at TCU,” Jamie Dixon explained. “We want to thank Jaylen for all his contributions to the program and wish him all the best in the future.”

Fisher will remain on campus at TCU, taking classes in the spring and receiving medical treatment on the knee. Though he was on the bench against Baylor and traveled with the team to Kansas, he was noticeably absent in Oklahoma and at home for the game against West Virginia. Afterward, Coach Dixon spoke on why. “It’s hard. You practice your whole life for these opportunities and you just see it. I’ve seen it before, but I’ve never seen it to this extent. You’ve got to understand how much time and effort they put into it, and how important it is. It’s taken away from you and it’s hard. You just feel for them.”

The Frogs will honor Fisher’s scholarship should he choose to complete his degree at TCU. It is expected, however, that he will enter his name into the transfer portal and explore other opportunities to keep playing. Dixon said earlier this week that the junior would qualify for a medical redshirt, meaning he would have two years of eligibility but will lose one since he is staying on campus this spring.

Fisher has been one of the emotional leaders for TCU, a program that has seen three first year players transfer out of the program already this season. Losing a fourth, and a player the caliber of Fisher, is certainly a blow to a program with NCAA Tournament hopes, but the Frogs will look to regroup and find contributions from others.

TCU (12-3, 2-2 Big 12) will next play at Kansas State (13-4, 3-2) on Saturday at 3 p.m. The Frogs are No. 12 in the RPI, No. 18 in KenPom and No. 25 in the NET.