CBS’s Jon Rothstein reported initially this week on Tuesday (Oct. 6) that Northwestern Wildcats senior guard Anthony Gaines has been cleared for all basketball related activities. This is big news for NU who finished 3-17 and No. 13 in conference standings just ahead of last place Nebraska.
Northwestern's Anthony Gaines (shoulder) has been fully cleared for all basketball related activities, per Chris Collins. Only played 10 games last season due to injury.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) October 6, 2020
Gaines has averaged 23.5 minutes over his career at NU, and started in 25 games, including all 10 he played in last season before being injured. The 6-foot-4 guard also shot 31.3-percent from three last season, though as a sophomore he shot just 26-percent from deep. The 205-pounder also averaged 1.7 assists over his career, and a high of 2.2 per game as a sophomore. He also averaged 1.3 steals per game over his career.
Career notables also include a season-high four steals against Michigan State, and 14-points and four assists against Providence last season. He also posted 10 points, five rebounds, and four assists in his first collegiate start against then No. 5 Michigan State as a freshman. Gaines chose Northwestern over offers from Butler and Dayton. He was rated the top player in New Hampshire by ESPN and a top-150 recruit nationally by 247 Sports. Getting him back should provide an important boost for the Wildcats.