Jenirro Bush entered this season as the lone returning senior for the Jackson State Tigers. The young JSU team needed to lean on Bush to help them win basketball games.
Bush was the preseason SWAC player of the year and led the team in scoring. This season, he was averaging 15.5 points per game with 4.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists.
Jackson State was looking for its second SWAC win over Texas Southern Monday, Jan. 16, at home. Texas Southern entered the game undefeated in SWAC and played a perfect 4-0.
Bush had one of his best games this season against Texas Southern. He led the way for JSU with 23 points, eight rebounds, two steals and one assist.
Midway through the second half, Bush went down with an injury that turned out to be a ruptured Achilles tendon. The injury in effect ends Bush's college career for JSU.
Jackson State went on to close out the game against Texas Southern for a 54-51 win.
Bush transferred to JSU last season. In his first season with the Tigers, he led JSU in scoring and rebounding with 14.2 points per game and 3.5 rebounds.
At the end of the season, Bush was named second team All-SWAC.
Jackson State can petition the NCAA for a medical red-shirt to give Bush another year. It would be highly unlikely because Bush played more than 20 percent of the season, but the waiver is not completely unheard of.
Bush will undergo surgery to repair his ruptured Achilles at some point.
Every athlete hopes to end his career on his terms. Sometimes that is not possible, but Bush is the kind of guy sports fan should root for, no matter what his future brings.
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