Gary West Side forward Jalen Washington will miss his sophomore season. He tore his ACL earlier this month.

The injury made Washington's knee swell, so he had to wait to have an MRI. It is expected to keep Washington out of action until May. He should be healthy for next summer.

Washington is one of the top prospects in the country. 247Sports.com ranks Washington as the seventh best prospect in the 2022 class. The state only sees a top-10 player in the nation once every few years. Indiana Basketball Source ranks him as the state's best 2022 player.

Unfortunately, Washington missed most of his freshman season as well. In the first game of his high school career, he injured his shoulder against Marquette. He came back at the end of the high school season before performing well on the travel circuit. This is another major blow for a kid oozing with potential.

The ACL injury doesn't have to be a career setback for Washington. Many players have returned to full strength after tearing an ACL. James Blackmon Jr. tore his ACL as a sophomore at Bishop Luers. Blackmon advanced as an explosive athlete after the injury. As long as Washington rehabs correctly, he can still reach his potential.