Former Seton Hall basketball player Myles Powell sues the university, coach Kevin Willard, and a trainer for 'mishandling his knee injury in 2019 and derailing his career'
Former Seton Hall basketball star Myles Powell is suing the New Jersey university, head coach Kevin Willard, and the school's director of sports medicine over accusations that they mishandled his knee injury in 2019, which ultimately ruined his chances of playing in the NBA.
Filed in New Jersey Superior Court, the lawsuit accuses Seton Hall, Willard, and director of sports medicine Tony Testa of negligence and a breach of fiduciary duty. Seton Hall is also sued for breach of contract in the filing.
Powell claims that Testa incorrectly diagnosed a torn meniscus in his knee as a simple bone bruise during the 2019-20 campaign. The Trenton, New Jersey native said that after he suffered his knee injury in a game against Stony Brook that November, Testa injected him with pain killers to allow him to continue playing.
Former Seton Hall basketball star Myles Powell is suing the New Jersey university, head coach Kevin Willard, and the school's director of sports medicine over accusations that they mishandled his knee injury in 2019, which ultimately ruined his chances of playing in the NBA
In his filing, Powell claims Willard , Testa , and other school officials 'knew that he had suffered not just an ankle injury and concussion during the season, but a lateral meniscus tear to his right knee which should have necessitated his sitting out the rest of the season so as not to exacerbate the injury'
Testa's background is in athletic training and he is not a licensed doctor.
In his filing, Powell claims Willard, Testa, and other school officials 'knew that he had suffered not just an ankle injury and concussion during the season, but a lateral meniscus tear to his right knee which should have necessitated his sitting out the rest of the season so as not to exacerbate the injury.'
Powell said that the knee injury hurt his status in the eyes of NBA teams prior to the 2020 draft, when he went unselected.
'Professionals connected to the various teams in the NBA had suspected or discovered that Powell had a serious injury to his right knee that had gone untreated,' read the complaint obtained by CourtHouseNews.com.
A Seton Hall spokesperson responded to DailyMail.com's request for comment with an email statement: 'Seton Hall University has always and continues to put the health and safety of our students first. We are aware of the matter, but are unable to comment on pending litigation.'
Seton Hall Pirates head coach Kevin Willard talks with Seton Hall Pirates guard Myles Powell (13) during the College Basketball game between the Seton Hall Pirates and the St. John's Red Storm on December 31, 2017, at the Prudential Center in Newark