Slow recovery a road block for Houston

Jim Swing
Sports Editor
Commonwealth Times’ Sports Twitter

In the weeks leading up to the start of the season, Shaka Smart said that redshirt freshman Heath Houston showed energy and toughness in practice, and that he was going to be a key guy in the team’s rotation.

And then he broke his foot.

It’s been a slow recovery for the 6-foot-8, 230-pound forward who’s posted four points, five rebounds and three turnovers in just 32 minutes so far this season.

“He has not returned to where he was before he broke his foot,” Smart said. “And part of that probably is him still rounding into shape and getting healthy.”

The Powder Springs, Ga. native originally signed with Auburn, but was released after head coach Jeff Lebo resigned. Houston later signed with VCU to round out Smart’s 2010 class.

“Part of it is, he’s got to make a decision on his part and he’s got to go out there and play with an unbelievable amount of intensity and determination,” Smart said. “And he hasn’t done that enough yet.”