Georgia Tech C Dickey to redshirt

Dec 19, 2007 - 2:21 AM ATLANTA (Ticker) -- A lingering knee injury has forced Ra'Sean Dickey to look toward next season.

A senior center for Georgia Tech, Dickey has opted to redshirt for the 2007-08 season, the school announced on Tuesday.

Although the 6-10 Dickey was unavailable to play in any of the Yellow Jackets' first eight games due to being academically ineligible, he also had been unable to practice over that span due to tendinitis in his right knee.

Apparently, the injury is not expected to heal any time soon.

"Ra'Sean is just not healthy, he's experiencing severe tendinitis in one knee and also has problems in his other knee from a past injury," Georgia Tech coach Paul Hewitt said. "It is in his best interest at this point to get healthy, and he is assured of graduating in the spring of 2009 if he continues on his current schedule academically.

"He has missed several practices in the fall and had to pull out of a practice as early as Sunday because of his knee problems. So we've decided it is in his best interest to redshirt."

A starter in 23 of 32 games last season, Dickey averaged 8.1 points and 5.3 rebounds. For his career, the 22-year-old has scored 8.7 points and collected 5.1 boards.

"I've decided that it's best for me to stay on my present course, concentrate on my academics and do everything I can to get healthy so, hopefully, I can play another season and get my degree," said Dickey, a management major.

The Yellow Jackets faced third-ranked Kansas on Tuesday evening, dropping a 71-66 decision for their fourth loss in their last six games.