Illinois State junior forward Bobby Hill will miss his second-consecutive season as a result of a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), however this time the injury occurred in his left knee. 

The St. Louis native injured the knee last Saturday during a conditioning workout.  Hill will need surgery, the third he will have undergone in the last 15 months.  In May 2008, he tore his ACL in the right knee, before rupturing the patellar tendon in the same knee in February 2009. 

"In all the years I have coached, this is the toughest news I can remember ever receiving," Illinois State head coach Tim Jankovich said.  "It is difficult for me to put in words how devastated I am for him.  Bobby is a wonderful young man who deserves much better than this.  Everyone who knows Bobby, loves him and our entire basketball family will be there to support him through these difficult times." 

Hill did not see any game action during the 2008-09 season, after transferring from Lincoln Junior College.  He was named a National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) First-Team All-American last season after leading Lincoln College to a 26-7 record.  He averaged a team-high 16.7 points per game.