Neshaminy's Ryan Arcidiacono to miss basketball season

After receiving a second doctor's opinion on Tuesday, Neshaminy High School's Ryan Arcidiacono, a standout senior point guard who has committed to Villanova, has decided to undergo a "minor procedure" later this month to repair a lower-back injury.

The 6-foot-3, 185-pound Arcidiacono, an Inquirer first-team all-Southeastern Pennsylvania selection as a junior, will miss the entire 2011-2012 season.

"It's disappointing, obviously, but this is something that will speed up the process of me getting back to playing basketball," he said. "I'm excited about that part of it."

Arcidiacono began to experience discomfort in his lower back shortly after last season. Beginning in late May, he participated in four showcase events, including the Deron Williams Academy in Chicago, in a month-long span.

"My mobility was really limited," the 17-year-old said. "I was really sore at times. I could barely move around."

Arcidiacono said the medical procedure, at a location to be determined, is tentatively scheduled for Dec. 20 or 21. "The rehab is expected to take between six and eight weeks," he said.

The Langhorne resident was first examined by Scott A. Rushton, an orthopedic surgeon at Pennsylvania Hospital.

"I tried to be optimistic going into this, but it turned out to be a little more serious than I thought it would be," Arcidiacono said. "I guess this was bound to happen."

In his career at Neshaminy, Arcidiacono, a long-range sharpshooter, totaled 1,498 points, 449 rebounds, 378 assists, 178 steals, and 160 three-pointers.

Last season, while becoming the program's all-time leading scorer and leading the Redskins to a 22-7 record, he averaged 20.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 2.2 steals.