His first week of Division I basketball practice did not go as expected.University of Cincinnati junior Derek Hollman has been held back by a sore shoulder, which he hurt the first day of practice while diving for a ball.

        “It popped out,” he said.

        The 6-foot-10 center has been wearing a harness to limit his range of motion. He stopped participating in contact drills Thursday, trying to rest his shoulder.

        “It's really frustrating,” Hollman said. “I worked so hard to get here. Now this is holding me back.

        “I hurt it about a year ago in a basketball game. It was dislocated. I was going up for a rebound and somebody snatched my arm all the way back, and it just popped out and stayed out. It wasn't really bothering me last season. As time passed, it went away.”

        Team doctors told Hollman to give the shoulder a rest. “I'm going to take their advice,” he said. “... What I do is go hard in the paint, that's my game. If I can't be aggressive, then how can I be me?”

        RECRUITING UPDATES: Alexander Johnson, a 6-9 forward from Albany (Ga.) Dougherty High School, told The Enquirer he plans to make an official visit to UC, as soon as this coming weekend.

        Johnson had orally committed to Georgia but said he has re-opened his recruiting because “I'm trying to make sure I make the right decision.” He said he has followed UC since Kenyon Martin was a Bearcat and that he likes coach Bob Huggins and the way the team plays. He said he also is considering Alabama, Florida and Georgia.

        Johnson is ranked No.21 in the country by RivalsHoops.com, No.26 by cnnsi.com and BlueChipHoops.com and No.34 by CBS.Sportsline.com.

        SATT WATCH: Former Bearcat Kenny Satterfield played in just two of the Denver Nuggets' first four preseason games. His totals: 20 minutes, 2-of-8 shooting from the field, 0-of-3 from 3-point range, four points, three assists, two turnovers.

        VEGAS: Game times have been set for the Las Vegas Classic games Dec.20-22. UC will play at 8 p.m. ET on Dec.20 (vs. Louisiana-Monroe) and 21 (vs. Mississippi State). The championship game is at 10:30 p.m. on Dec.22.

UC 29, Houston 28 UC women driven to NCAA berth Hollman held up by sore shoulder

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