Penn men’s basketball junior forward TJ Power is “day-by-day” with an upper-body injury suffered earlier in the offseason but is “shooting” to return before the Quakers tip off their season on Nov. 7, according to coach Fran McCaffery.
“He’s not in practice yet,” McCaffery told The Daily Pennsylvanian after practice on Friday. “He’s not been cleared to play yet, but I think in time he will be. It’s day-by-day. So we’ll see. We’re shooting for the first game, see if that happens — if not, hopefully shortly thereafter.”
Power reportedly suffered the injury four weeks ago in the days leading up to the annual Red and Blue Scrimmage. He ultimately did not participate in the Oct. 4 scrimmage, sitting out with a brace on his injured right arm. At the time, McCaffery said Power was still being evaluated.
On Friday, Power was seen taking layups at practice, still with an arm brace on.
Power, a former five-star recruit in the high school Class of 2023, joined the Quakers during the past offseason as a transfer from Virginia. He was the first former five-star recruit in program history and the most notable acquisition for the Quakers under new head coach McCaffery. Mid-Major Madness named Power the Ivy League Preseason Newcomer of the Year.
Power began his collegiate career at Duke alongside current Philadelphia 76ers guard Jared McCain. After a year in Durham, N.C., where he averaged just 2.1 points, Power opted to transfer to Virginia — his second choice out of high school.
Longtime Virginia coach Tony Bennett’s departure prior to the start of the 2024-25 season shook the program and Power’s arrival. Power, who averaged 1.3 points and 9.3 minutes per game, was one of 10 Virginia players who departed from the program following a tumultuous year under then-interim coach Ron Sanchez.
McCaffery originally recruited Power to play at Iowa, the longtime Hawkeyes coach told Philadelphia Sports Now in July. During that process, he developed a strong relationship with Power and his family. After being dismissed from the Hawkeyes, McCaffery received “two of the warmest text messages” from Power’s parents. Once McCaffery was hired by the Quakers, the relationship brought Power to Penn.
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Penn men’s basketball will open its season at the Palestra on Nov. 7 against Rowan.
