While the last few months surrounding Xavier men's basketball has been about the program's roster reconstruction through the NCAA's transfer portal, the Musketeers still have a few key returning pieces they are trying to get back to full strength.

Speaking with Jon Rothstein on the College Hoops Today podcast on Monday, Xavier head coach Sean Miller said that forward Jerome Hunter has been cleared for non-contact activity.

"He (Hunter) is where he should be in terms of his surgery, his rehabilitation, etcetera," Miller told Rothstein on the podcast.

Miller added that Hunter could be ready for Xavier's season-opener Nov. 4 against Texas Southern if he continues to progress.

"We're gonna clear him for contact, assuming he continues to stay the course, in the early fall, which would give him, I think, a good runway of a couple months to get ready, play 5-on-5 and get back there where we're optimistic he can be ready for our season-opener," Miller said.

Xavier's disappointing 2023-24 season began last summer, when Hunter suffered a cardiac episode and was out indefinitely. Hunter returned to practice in a limited capacity in December and worked his way into contact practice in January as a usual scout team participant before suffering a torn Achilles in February.

Hunter has averaged 6 points and 3.7 rebounds per game over two seasons at Xavier, helping lead the Musketeers to the Sweet 16 in 2023.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Xavier head coach Sean Miller provides update on Jerome Hunter injury