Tom Crean is now faced with another challenge as he continues to try and rebuild the Georgia basketball program.

Crean announced on Twitter that top returning player P.J. Horne has suffered a season-ending knee injury.

“It’s with genuine sadness that let you know that ⁦@prestonhorne24 will miss this ⁦@UGABasketball season after undergoing surgery on his right knee this past weekend,” Crean wrote. “In practice, he bumped knees in a scrimmage, lost footing and went down awkwardly.”

Horne was one of only 2 Bulldogs to start all 26 games last season, and averaged 8.5 points and 3.4 rebounds in 28.4 minutes per game. This is a big hit to the program after Horne was expected to be one of the key players for Crean’s team after Georgia basketball’s top 5 leading scorers from last year transferred out.

“This is such a major blow to us because ⁦@prestonhorne24 was playing so well and showing great leadership as our leading returning player,” Crean said, “but more so because he is such a great person and one of the finest people I’ve ever coached. He cares about his teammates deeply. The future is definitely in ⁦@prestonhorne24 grasp. The goal is to finish his Masters, rehab consistently and be the leader we need him to be. A full recovery is expected and anticipated. He will continue to be a DIFFERENCE MAKER in all that he does. We love P.J.”