Jamal Shead injury update: Houston star taken to locker room after turning ankle vs. Duke in Sweet 16

Houston came out with a swarming defense against Duke in Friday night's Sweet 16 matchup, showcasing the X-factor that makes the Cougars a legitimate national championship contender.

With an injury to All-American point guard Jamal Shead, though, those lofty ambitions could be on hold.

Kelvin Sampson's squad saw Shead go down with an ankle injury in the first half. The 21-year-old senior needed help to walk back to the locker room.

Houston thrives on its outstanding backcourt, which is led by Shead and LJ Cryer. Shead might not fill the stat sheet with gaudy scoring numbers, but he received All-American recognition because he impacts just about every facet of the game for Houston. Any time without their floor general would be a major blow to the Cougars' title hopes.

Here are the latest updates on Shead's status against Duke and potentially for the remainder of the 2024 NCAA Tournament.

MORE: Follow live updates from Houston vs. Duke in Sweet 16

Jamal Shead injury update

Shead appeared to turn his right ankle while driving toward the basket during Friday night's game against Duke. He immediately went down to the floor and grabbed his ankle, and he wasn't able to get back up as Houston went back on defense.

This did not look good for Jamal Shead. Ugh. He had to be carried to the locker room heavily favoring the right ankle. pic.twitter.com/GRQiEsXVor

— Kyle Boone (@kyletheboone) March 30, 2024

Shead did get up during the injury timeout, but he limped off the court and needed help to walk back to the locker room.

Jamal Shead was helped to the locker room with an apparent right ankle injury.

pic.twitter.com/JZ5EGJEIDO

— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) March 30, 2024

Shead was diagnosed with a severely sprained ankle, CBS Sports' Tracy Wolfson said on the broadcast after the halftime break. His X-rays were negative, and while his ankle heavily was taped, Shead was not ruled out for a return in the second half.

Jamal Shead stats 2023-24

Shead's presence is pivotal for the Cougars. Houston's depth thinned out due to injuries late in the regular season, but the senior point guard would be key no matter what.

He is averaging 15.1 points, 6.7 assists and 2.0 steals per game since the calendar flipped to 2024, making an impact both as a creator on the offensive end and an integral piece on the defensive end for a defensive-minded Houston team.

Cryer took over as the floor general when Shead went out in the first half against Duke. But the All-American's status for the remainder of Friday's game and potentially the remainder of the tournament could determine where Houston's season goes from here.