Posted: 12/4/02

Scarred but not scared

Berk Brown
Sports Editor

The scar may remain on the left knee of Forest Lakeís Joe Ryan but the senior will not let the torn ACL which ended his season last year stop him from reaking havoc on opponents this winter.

Joe Ryan is one of the best boys basketball players in the state of Minnesota.

He was on his way to an all-state kind of a season last year when he tore his ACL in his left knee in a game against Hastings.

Even though he played in just 16 games, he still finished with the most points on the team with 276 ñÝan average of 17.3 per game.

He hit a team-high 38 3-pointers, pulled down more than four rebounds a game, blocked 27 shots and dished out 35 assists.

But that was before he went up for a jump shot against Hastings and blew out his knee. His season was over and the road to recovery was just beginning.

He started playing again in July traveled to Indiana with a select AAU team late in the summer. The tournament marked his first time back to playing serious basketball.

He made the all-tournament team in Indiana and hasnít looked back yet.

Heís worked so hard to come back better that he has some tendinitis in his knee and has developed shin splints.

And with his senior season starting this week, Ryan said itís time to leave it all on the court.
ìThis is what I worked for all summer ñÝever since I was able to get up and wak,î Ryan said. ìIím not going to hold anything back now.î

Take note, Ranger opponents. Ryan hasnít lost a step. Hasnít lost any spring in his step. If anything, heís gained a few RPMs on his motor.

ìI know now how easy things can be taken away from you,î Ryan said. ìIím going to go out there every time and play like it might be my last game.

ìWe have the goal of getting to state. I think we can get there. Weíre going to work at it pretty hard.î

To understand Ryanís motivation you have to understand his passion for the sport of basketball.

Nothing short of a gym rat, Ryan is rarely seen outside of school hours without a basketball.
The game, in many ways, has been his life growing up and having to sit at the end of the bench last season in street clothes was like putting him in a orange jump suit and shackles.

Ryan had his surgery in February. It was preformed by one of the specialists for the Minnesota Vikings.

His two scars on his left knee are still obvious. The largest is right on the knee, the other is off to the side. The scars will likely be there for life. A reminder of what he went through and possibly what he missed out on.

Ryanís game had developed to the point where he was getting some sniffs from Division I colleges like Iowa State and Wyoming.

Those sniffs went away when he injured his knee. Ryan says he doesnít care because he isnít sure he wants to play at the Division I level. He hints that the Division II level may better suit his desire to play right away.

Regardless, Ryan said he is focused on doing everything he can to help his talented teammates achieve their goal of reaching state.

And if opponents arenít sure if heíll be the same player post-injury as he was prior, Ryan said he has a surpirse for them.

ìI donít think Iíve lost anything. If anything, I think Iíve gained knowledge about things and things are coming a lot more naturally,î Ryan said. ìAs far as playing, Iím back to where I was if not above. The only thing is the pain after games and practices.

ìThe pain is just something I have to put up with and I can deal with that.î

Now the only question is, can opponents deal with him.

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