University of North Carolina Athletics
Jason Capel Undergoes Successful Back Surgery
June 21, 1999 | Men's Basketball
March 17, 1999
CHAPEL HILL --- University of North Carolina freshman guard/forward Jason Capel underwent successful surgery today to repair damage to two (2) disks in his lower back. Dr. Joe Minchew performed the four-hour procedure at North Carolina Memorial Hospital.
Capel played in 26 games for the Tar Heels. He averaged 9.1 points and 4.1 rebounds per game and led the team in free throw shooting at 85.4 percent.
He suffered three hard falls during the season that strained his lower back. He took a charge and fell on his back in the December 12th win UNC Charlotte; was knocked off his feet while driving for a layup in practice on February 25th; and was knocked to the floor while awaiting a rebound in the ACC Tournament semifinal win over Maryland on March 6th.
Capel did not play against Georgia Tech in the ACC Quarterfinals on March 5th because of a sore back. He was sensational in his return to the lineup against the Terrapins as he scored 13 points, including three three-point field goals. He was upended while going for a rebound and was unable to return in that game.
He played 10 minutes against Duke in the ACC final and four minutes against Weber State in the NCAA Tournament first round. He did not score in either of his last two games. Capel scored in double figures in 12 games, including a season-high 16 in consecutive games in December against Old Dominion and the College of Charleston. Earlier in the season, Capel missed one game due to a family illness and six games due to mononucleosis.
"Everything went well," says mens basketball trainer Marc Davis. "It was what you would term a successful procedure. He should be able to complete his academic work this semester and we anticipate his full return to the team next season."
(Note: Dr. Minchew performed a similar procedure in December 1994 on senior forward Pat Sullivan, who is now an assistant coach at UNC. Sullivan returned to action later that same season.)
