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Vanderbilt 5-star guard Gabe Nesmith could miss season after surgery, Mark Byington says
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- Vanderbilt 5-star guard Gabe Nesmith could miss season after surgery, Mark Byington says
Vanderbilt basketball freshman guard Gabe Nesmith missed the season opener with an injury, which coach Mark Byington indicated Nov. 2 may force him to miss the 2026-27 season.
The Commodores defeated Bellarmine 93-47 at Memorial Gym and Nesmith, a five-star prospect from Palm Beach, Florida, was spotted on the sideline with his right leg in a cast.
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Byington said Smith recently underwent surgery on his leg.
Vanderbilt guard Ace Glass (21) pushes up the court with Bellarmine guard Tommy Clark (0) during the first half at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, Nov. 2, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
Vanderbilt guard Tyler Tanner (3) shoots past Bellarmine guard Tyler Doyle (2) during the first half at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, Nov. 2, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
Vanderbilt forward Chandler Bing (7) pushes into Bellarmine guard Grant Neal (4) during the first half at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, Nov. 2, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
Vanderbilt forward Sebastian Williams-Adams (33) fights for the ball with Bellarmine forward Sam Donald (23) and guard Grant Whitaker (10) during the first half at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, Nov. 2, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
Bellarmine guard Kenyon Goodin (8) and Vanderbilt forward Sebastian Williams-Adams (33) dive for a loose ball during the first half at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, Nov. 2, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
Bellarmine guard Kenyon Goodin (8) passes past Vanderbilt forward Sebastian Williams-Adams (33) during the first half at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, Nov. 2, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
Vanderbilt guard Tyler Tanner (3) guards Bellarmine forward Sam Donald (23) during the first half at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, Nov. 2, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
Vanderbilt guard Ace Glass (21) brings the ball up the x5court against Bellarmine during the first half at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, Nov. 2, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
Vanderbilt forward Chandler Bing (7) and Bellarmine guard Tyler Doyle (2) dive for a loose ball during the first half at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, Nov. 2, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
Vanderbilt coach Mark Byington watches his team face Bellarmine during the first half at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, Nov. 2, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
Vanderbilt forward Bangot Dak (8) shoots past Bellarmine forward Jacob Wassler (44) during the first half at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, Nov. 2, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
Vanderbilt guard Tyler Tanner (3) bolts past Bellarmine guard Grant Whitaker (10) during the first half at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, Nov. 2, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
Vanderbilt center Jayden Leverett (34) sets up for a shot over Bellarmine forward Jacob Wassler (44) during the first half at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, Nov. 2, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
Vanderbilt guard Ace Glass (21) looks for a path past Bellarmine guard Julius Gizzi (11) during the first half at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, Nov. 2, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
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Vanderbilt tips off college basketball season vs Bellarmine: See our best photos
Vanderbilt guard Ace Glass (21) pushes up the court with Bellarmine guard Tommy Clark (0) during the first half at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, Nov. 2, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
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Vanderbilt tips off college basketball season vs Bellarmine: See our best photos
Vanderbilt guard Ace Glass (21) pushes up the court with Bellarmine guard Tommy Clark (0) during the first half at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, Nov. 2, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
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Vanderbilt tips off college basketball season vs Bellarmine: See our best photos
Vanderbilt guard Tyler Tanner (3) shoots past Bellarmine guard Tyler Doyle (2) during the first half at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, Nov. 2, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
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Vanderbilt tips off college basketball season vs Bellarmine: See our best photos
Vanderbilt forward Chandler Bing (7) pushes into Bellarmine guard Grant Neal (4) during the first half at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, Nov. 2, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
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Vanderbilt tips off college basketball season vs Bellarmine: See our best photos
Vanderbilt forward Sebastian Williams-Adams (33) fights for the ball with Bellarmine forward Sam Donald (23) and guard Grant Whitaker (10) during the first half at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, Nov. 2, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
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Vanderbilt tips off college basketball season vs Bellarmine: See our best photos
Bellarmine guard Kenyon Goodin (8) and Vanderbilt forward Sebastian Williams-Adams (33) dive for a loose ball during the first half at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, Nov. 2, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
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Vanderbilt tips off college basketball season vs Bellarmine: See our best photos
Bellarmine guard Kenyon Goodin (8) passes past Vanderbilt forward Sebastian Williams-Adams (33) during the first half at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, Nov. 2, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
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Vanderbilt tips off college basketball season vs Bellarmine: See our best photos
Vanderbilt guard Tyler Tanner (3) guards Bellarmine forward Sam Donald (23) during the first half at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, Nov. 2, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
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Vanderbilt tips off college basketball season vs Bellarmine: See our best photos
Vanderbilt guard Ace Glass (21) brings the ball up the x5court against Bellarmine during the first half at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, Nov. 2, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
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Vanderbilt tips off college basketball season vs Bellarmine: See our best photos
Vanderbilt forward Chandler Bing (7) and Bellarmine guard Tyler Doyle (2) dive for a loose ball during the first half at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, Nov. 2, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
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Vanderbilt tips off college basketball season vs Bellarmine: See our best photos
Vanderbilt coach Mark Byington watches his team face Bellarmine during the first half at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, Nov. 2, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
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Vanderbilt tips off college basketball season vs Bellarmine: See our best photos
Vanderbilt forward Bangot Dak (8) shoots past Bellarmine forward Jacob Wassler (44) during the first half at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, Nov. 2, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
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Vanderbilt tips off college basketball season vs Bellarmine: See our best photos
Vanderbilt guard Tyler Tanner (3) bolts past Bellarmine guard Grant Whitaker (10) during the first half at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, Nov. 2, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
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Vanderbilt tips off college basketball season vs Bellarmine: See our best photos
Vanderbilt center Jayden Leverett (34) sets up for a shot over Bellarmine forward Jacob Wassler (44) during the first half at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, Nov. 2, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
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Vanderbilt tips off college basketball season vs Bellarmine: See our best photos
Vanderbilt guard Ace Glass (21) looks for a path past Bellarmine guard Julius Gizzi (11) during the first half at Memorial Gymnasium in Nashville, Tenn., Monday, Nov. 2, 2026.
(ANDREW NELLES / THE TENNESSEAN)
"He'll be out for a couple of months; it could be season-ending, we don't know quite yet," Byington said. "But I really enjoyed coaching him. I think he's going to be a heck of a player for us. I'm excited about his future. This is a setback for him, but he can overcome this."
The 6-foot-6 Nesmith was expected to make an immediate impact for the Commodores. Byington said a year off could end up helping Nesmith in the long run.
