C.J. McCollum has received positive feedback about his draft stock, and is eager to prove he’s 100 percent healthy and ready to take his game to the NBA.

"Teams, from what I've heard, are pretty positive about me," McCollum said in his first interview since fracturing the fifth metatarsal in his left foot on Jan. 5. "The biggest thing is they just want to see me healthy. I'm healthy. My X-rays are very, very beautiful. I think that's just the biggest thing; they want to make sure my foot is OK.

"My draft stock is still pretty good right now. It'll be better when I get back on the court and show teams that the injury hasn't fazed me, and I've actually gotten stronger and improved aspects of my game."

McCollum believes the final step of his recovery process is mental.

"You have to be mentally tough," McCollum said. "Physically, you're going to feel fine, but the mental aspect is what makes the difference. ... You have to be invested, have 100% confidence that you can do the job and do it better than you could do it before. I feel fine.

"I think all the other guys who have had this injury have exceeded expectations after the injury, and I think I'll be in a similar position to do so as well."

Bucknell's Mike Muscala has been named Patriot League Player of the Year.

Muscala was joined on the First Team by teammate Cameron Ayers, Ella Ellis of Army, Holden Grenier of Lehigh and Lafayette's Tony Johnson.

Muscala was also named Defensive Player of the Year, while Army's Kyle Wilson won Rookie of the Year honors.

C.J. McCollum may not return this season from a broken foot if it means risking a potential future in the NBA.

McCollum is expected out 8-10 weeks after undergoing surgery Tuesday.

Lehigh coach Brett Reed is preparing as if McCollum won’t return.

Reed said the hope was to get McCollum fully healed ''to reduce all chances of future injury'' and ensure career longevity.

C.J. McCollum suffered a fracture of his fifth metatarsal in his left foot.

McCollum, who is one of the top seniors in the country and a projected first round pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, is expected to miss eight to 10 weeks.

"We are going to make sure C.J. is fully recovered and will place the highest priority on quality of care and be certain the injury has healed properly before full activity is resumed," Lehigh head coach Brett Reed said.

Virginia Commonwealth has received 31 NBA scouting credentials requests for their game on Saturday against Lehigh.

Twenty different NBA teams will be represented at the game.

Lehigh's C.J. McCollum is expected to be a high first round pick in the 2013 NBA Draft.

VCU's Treveon Graham, Juvonte Reddic and Troy Daniels are considered more fringe NBA prospects.

Fifty-seven NBA scouts and team officials, including six general managers/presidents, have reserved seats for Thursday’s contest between North Texas’ Tony Mitchell and Lehigh’s C.J. McCollum.

“Every NBA team will be represented at that game,” one NBA official said on the condition of anonymity. “It’s a real credit to those mid-major programs that develop world-class talent the old-fashioned way.”

McCollum, a 6-foot-3 guard, leads the nation in scoring at 24.9 points a game.

Mitchell was named Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year last season and is averaging 13.6 points and 8.6 rebounds.

Both players are projected as potential lottery picks in the 2013 draft.

“It’s the same as it was in high school, when we had college coaches coming to watch our AAU and high school games,” Mitchell said. “It’s not something we think about. We just have to try to win the game.”