KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The University of Tennessee’s seventh-ranked basketball team will be losing sophomore forward J.P. Estrella for the remainder of the season due to an upcoming surgery on his left foot, as announced by Coach Rick Barnes on Monday.

Barnes expressed sympathy for Estrella’s situation, stating, “We feel badly for J.P. that he won’t be able to compete alongside his teammates this season. In addition to being a talented player, he is such a positive and energetic person. It is for that reason we know he will still make an impact, even if it’s not on the court.”

In light of this circumstance, Tennessee plans to request a medical redshirt for Estrella, allowing him to retain a year of eligibility.

Standing at 6-foot-11 and weighing 250 pounds, the forward from Scarborough, Maine, is now in his second year with the Volunteers, who currently hold a perfect record of 6-0. Estrella participated in the first three games this season, where he averaged 4.7 points and 2.7 rebounds in about 10 minutes per contest. His shooting performance was notable, converting 6 of 9 attempts from the field, and he achieved a career-high of eight points during a game against Montana on November 13.

Last season, he appeared in 25 games as a freshman and boasted an impressive shooting percentage of 71.4%.

Tennessee is set to face UT Martin at home on Wednesday night.