Has North Carolina's Kendall Marshall Already Decided to Play on Friday?

North Carolina point guard Kendall Marshall is recovering from surgery on his broken right wrist and it’s unclear if he’ll be ready to return for the Tar Heels Sweet 16 game in St. Louis on Friday but has he already decided that he is going to play?

Los Angeles Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak made an appearance on the Petros and Money Show on AM570 in Los Angeles on Monday afternoon. Kupchak came on the show to discuss several topics surrounding the Lakers but towards the end of the segment he briefly mentioned the Marshall situation.

Kupchak was an All-American basketball player while at North Carolina in the 70’s and to this days remains closely affiliated with the program. According to Kupchak, several people with close ties to the Tar Heels basketball program mentioned to him that Marshall will try and play on Friday despite having a screw inserted into his surgically repaired wrist.

Marshall had a screw inserted into his wrist to repair a fractured scaphoid bone, a bone located near the thumb. The injury occurred when Marshall was fouled driving to the basket during the second half of Sunday’s win against Creighton

If what Kupchak says is true, nobody else is willing to admit it. Marshall’s father Dennis talked to the media immediately following his sons surgery on Monday. He said if and when his son plays again would be based on “what would be best for Kendall in the long term.” He also reiterated that he didn’t know if the younger Marshall would be ready for action by Friday.

The school also said they didn’t know Marshall’s status for the game. It will be interesting to see if he does in fact play in the game. If so, can we officially use Kupchak as a Tar Heels insider?

Marshall averaged eight points and ten assists in 33 minute per game in his sophomore season as a Carolina Tar Heel.

Follow me on Twitter! @StevePalumboNHL

Email me at [email protected]