Cunningham is out for season with re-injury

Kasey Cunningham was just starting to show his potential as a rebounder and defender after a 22-month injury layoff when the USC redshirt freshman again tore a knee ligament in practice Wednesday.

Now the 6-foot-7, 225-pound forward faces surgery that will sideline him for the remainder of the season and another lengthy rehabilitation program. Cunningham had torn the same anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during his senior year of high school and spent all of last season recuperating.

“It’s really sad,” said Coach Tim Floyd, who last week had singled out Cunningham as his team’s most pleasant surprise. “He was just that rock that we could rely on. He was the hardest-working guy we had in practice.”

Trainer Bobby Walls said Cunningham suffered the injury when a teammate stepped on his foot and Cunningham twisted his knee. Cunningham also suffered a tear of his lateral meniscus, a piece of cartilage in the knee that serves as a shock absorber. He is expected to be sidelined six to nine months.

“You hate to see a guy go down like that, especially when he just came back from a serious injury like he had last year,” sophomore guard Daniel Hackett said. “He’s a tough guy. He’ll grow from this and come back even stronger.”

Cunningham started three games and averaged 2.7 points, 2.6 rebounds and 14.6 minutes. His absence will probably thrust junior forwards Keith Wilkinson and RouSean Cromwell into more prominent roles.

“He’s going to be missed,” Floyd said. “We’re going to have to regroup now, and it will be an opportunity for somebody else.”

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The future of USC recruit Malik Story is in limbo after the senior guard was asked not to return to Mouth of Wilson (Va.) Oak Hill Academy next semester following an undisclosed incident. Oak Hill Coach Steve Smith confirmed that school administrators asked Story not to return after the incident, which the coach said was not of a criminal nature.

Trojans coaches plan to meet with Story and his family this weekend to assess his future, and a source said he could transfer to Los Angeles Ribet Academy. Smith said Story did not sign with USC during the fall signing period because he had not qualified academically.

Floyd cannot comment on recruits until they sign letters of intent. Story had attended Lakewood Artesia High before transferring to Oak Hill this fall, saying at the time he wanted to experience “living on my own, caring for myself.”

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The mother of former USC recruit Brandon Jennings said her son remained committed to Arizona even if Wildcats Coach Lute Olson did not return next season. Alice Knox, whose son originally committed to USC before signing with Arizona last month, said Brandon was comfortable with interim Wildcats Coach Kevin O’Neill.

Citing family issues, Olson has taken a leave of absence through the end of this season, though he said he planned to return for the 2008-09 season.

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Freshman center Mamadou Diarra said he is coming to practice 30 minutes early each day in an effort to catch up on team concepts after sitting out five weeks following hernia surgery. Diarra had five points and three rebounds in 15 minutes Saturday during USC’s exhibition game against Fresno Pacific and said he expected to play against Delaware State on Monday.

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ben.bolch@latimes.com