Heytvelt could return for Stanford game

Gonzaga’s Josh Heytvelt says the latest X-rays taken of his injured left ankle show no remaining signs of the fracture that has sidelined him for the past eight weeks, which means the 6-foot-11 redshirt freshman forward could return to action much earlier than expected.

“My goal is to try to be back in time for the Stanford game (on Feb. 11),” Heytvelt said Wednesday afternoon. “The most recent X-rays showed no break line or anything, so, hopefully, I’ll be able to start practicing in the next 2 to 2 ½ weeks.”

Heytvelt, a former prep standout at Clarkston High School, missed most of the Bulldogs’ preseason camp and their season opener against Idaho with a stress reaction in his left foot. He was cleared to play in the Maui Invitational and had 13 points and five rebounds in GU’s wins over Maryland and Michigan State.

But he broke his ankle while diving for a loose ball in the Zags’ title-game loss to Connecticut on Nov. 23 and was expected to be sidelined until at least late February.

Heytvelt has been wearing a walking boot to protect the ankle, but said he is “weaning myself out of the boot,” and expects to discard it for good sometime next week. He’s been doing swimming pool and stationary bicycle workouts to stay in shape.

But Bulldogs coach Mark Few warned against expecting too much from his talented freshman, once he is cleared to play again.

“The thing that is going to kill him is that he really hasn’t done anything since September,” Few said. “He didn’t practice the whole first month … and then he got hurt again.