The best of rebounds

Steve Virgen

At first, Jordan Harris thought the worst. June 30th and the few

days after were some of the most horrible days of his life. Harris, a

senior and one of the leaders of the UC Irvine men’s basketball team,

injured his knee four months ago and was told he would probably need

surgery and would most likely miss this season, a season in which he

was looked at to be the difference-maker.

Harris, who earned honorable mention All-Big West Conference

honors last season when the Anteaters won the Big West regular-season

title, felt his knee give out on a fast break while playing

basketball in Los Angeles this past summer. He saw his knee swell and

thought his season would be over, and he thought he wouldn’t be able

to play again. It didn’t help that some UCI trainers gave him the

worst-case scenario: A torn anterior cruciate ligament and surgery

would be needed.

A doctor’s prognosis would be the bottom line and the night before

his appointment, Harris called his mother to empty his feelings.

“I was upset,” Harris said. “I told my mom that I didn’t know what

was going on. I told her I had an appointment, but that I was scared

and disappointed.”

Understand, Harris had never been seriously injured. He started

all 32 games last year. He had been working hard during the

off-season and was determined to make this season special for UCI. He

wanted to lead the Anteaters to the NCAA Tournament. But then came

the injury. And, then came the worry. Fortunately, for Harris, then

came mom.

Harris’ mother, Geraldine, who lives in Arizona, knew what she had

to do when she received the distressed phone call from her son. She

drove through the night, about a six-hour drive, to Irvine just to be

with her son for that doctor’s appointment.

“It was his first injury,” she said. “The trainer was very

insensitive to that. Jordan didn’t know what to expect from the

injury. Someone planted a tremendous seed of doubt in his mind. There

was no way I was going to let him experience that by himself. When I

got to Irvine I found him at the gym on his crutches, trying to find

a ride to the doctors. It was just really important for me to be

there.”

During the morning of the doctor’s appointment, Harris was at

Crawford Hall, pacing as best he could on his crutches. Negative

thoughts filled his mind. In most situations, he had always been in

control, whether it be to drain an open shot or to pass an exam in

class. But, this was a case where he could not determine the outcome.

He had no idea what was ahead. He turned around and there was mom.

“She drove six hours to go to the appointment with me for that

brief amount of time,” Harris said. “When I saw her, I started

crying. I couldn’t believe she drove all that way to be with me.

After the appointment, we went and grabbed a bite to eat, she took a

nap and she drove back home. I was just thinking, my mom really loves

me. It was really special that she did that for me.”

Geraldine stood at Jordan’s side when he received the results of

his knee injury. He partially tore his ACL and his posterior cruciate

ligament. There was no need for surgery. Rehabilitation and the aid

of a knee brace would be the best remedy for Harris’ knee.

“It was disappointing, going into the senior season and something

like that happens,” said Harris, who transferred from Colgate

University two seasons ago. “But now I’m playing, so I’m not too

upset. The injury gave me a different perspective on things. That

things could always be worse. I could have torn the ACL and be out

the whole season. I could have messed up my leg so much that I

wouldn’t be able to play again. I’m just glad I have the chance to

come back and play again.”

Harris, with the help and support of the UCI medical training

staff and his teammates, rehabilitated throughout the summer and on

Oct. 30th, he made his way back to the basketball court. That’s when

he played in an intersquad scrimmage game.

“It’s remarkable for him to do what he’s done,” UCI Coach Pat

Douglass said. “They thought he was done. They thought his career was

over. But he came back.

“A lot of people got to know him as part of the search committee

(that led to the hiring of UCI Athletic Director Bob Chichester),”

Douglass continued. “He’s so mature. He’s a well-rounded person. He’s

very much a team person. He buys into the program. He really wants to

be part of this team.”

Slowly, Harris gained security he could play at his 100%. He

received the OK to play in the Anteaters’ season-opening exhibition

game against Cal State Bakersfield. What was a meaningless game,

turned out to be the perfect training for Harris.

Harris scored 11 points in the 21 minutes he played. He hit a

three-pointer from the top of the key, with 42 seconds left to pull

the Anteaters to within, 59-56. UCI ended up losing, but the game

didn’t count and the statistics and the result will not be figured

into this season. Still, Harris said he hoped it wouldserve as a

wake-up call for the Anteaters, who are preparing to open the regular

season at the University of Oklahoma, ranked No. 3 in the nation.

That’s vintage Harris, finding the positive amid negative

situations. He said that’s one of the many lessons he learned from

dealing with the injury.