Eastern power forward Aaron Harrison is still on crutches and because of his recurring injury, the Chicago native has confirmed he will be redshirted for the 2003-04 season.

Head basketball coach Rick Samuels said they will redshirt Harrison because his foot is not medically ready for action.

“Coach Samuels and I both came to the decision that it was best for me and the team that I red-shirt and get ready for next year,” Harrison said.

In an article in the Oct. 21, The Daily Eastern News, Harrison said he expected to be practicing with the team by Nov. 17. After more than a month, Harrison has yet to step foot on the basketball court. In that time, Harrison has had three additional surgeries on his foot to correct the problem.

“It was very frustrating for me because a lot of guys were expecting me to come in and play a lot of minutes,” Harrison said.

The transfer from Trinton College expects to be practicing with the squad by mid-January as Eastern enters Ohio Valley Conference play.

“I think I can be helpful in practicing and preparing the guys when I get on the court,” Harrison said.

Harrison suffered a Jones fracture, which is a fracture of the fifth metatarsal of the foot at the base of the small toe, in a playground game over the summer.

Harrison got it looked at by his hometown doctor and was declared completely healthy before he came to Eastern.

Harrison began to workout with the team and realized he was still bothered by his foot.

He finally told the Panther training staff about the recurring problems, who decided to take another X-ray as a precaution.

The X-ray showed Harrison’s foot never completely healed.

By placing a screw in his foot and with the use of his crutches, Harrison has been assured that his foot injury is not expected to be a life-long ailment.

“They have told me that by staying off my foot and the screw, I shouldn’t have this problem all my life,” Harrison said.

The Panthers have lost their first two games in which Harrison’s post presence would have been useful, Samuels said.

“There aren’t many 6-foot-9 guys who throw their weight around,” Samuels said. “We’ve been oriented to play without him from the get go.”

Harrison said he has now turned his focus to getting himself physically ready for the 2004-05 campaign. These goals include getting his current weight of 290 pounds down to a 270-275 range and increasing his muscle mass.

With Harrison out this year, the Panthers will look to another transfer student, forward Aaron Patterson, to step up his play.

Patterson said after his two-game suspension, he’s ready to play.

“I get my chance here to go out there and do my thing,” Patterson said. “We have to step up our play down low.”

The 6-foot-6 Patterson from Indianapolis will add the rebounding and post presence the Panthers are looking for, Samuels said.

“Patterson will not start, but he’ll play and give us a presence we haven’t had,” Samuels said. “Patterson also adds depth, and he’s another player to fit into the rotation.”

Samuels also said he was impressed with Patterson’s passing ability, which will help with what the Panthers do offensively.

Two other freshman guards Bobby Catchings and forward Austin Hogue, are being considered for a redshirt, but a definite decision has yet to be made.