HighSchoolElite.com's Player Journals- Parker 5

Frank's notes:
On month ago Naperville Central's do-everything all-American was playing basketball as a perfectly healthy teenager. On Tuesday, July 29, Candace had surgery to repair the ACL in her left knee which she tore on July 11 while coming down with a rebound. Now Candace looks at a predicted recovery time of four to six months.

These past two weeks have been a blast! Although I had a sore knee I was able to get around pretty good. I caught some basketball, watched the tube, visited Maryland, hung out with my buddies and had surgery.

Candace Parker, Naperville Central's 6'5" All-American, had surgery on Tuesday, July 29, to repair her torn ACL.

On Monday, July 21, I flew to Washington D.C. to work the U-17 USJN tournament. I left out on an early flight and arrived in Baltimore. The tournament itself was held at a number of sites. The site I was scheduled to work was the Armory, which was on the campus of the University of Maryland College Park. Talk about absolutely amazing! In fact, that entire area is so beautiful. Just from spending a few days there I definitely have concluded that it is a college town with lots to do. If you haven’t yet, you have to go see the gorgeous new arena that just opened, the Comcast Center. When I was there I just got a feeling of new and young. The locker room contains a big screen TV, leather couches, laptop computers, and individual showers! (haha Coach Walz). CP cannot take group showers (smiles). But seriously, the place is amazing. The arena itself is built to perfection. I was fortunate enough on this trip to be allowed the opportunity to meet and get to know the coaches, team and future recruits. The coaching staff is less than a year and a half old and is a young and an exciting bunch. The team is hilarious. I had a great time getting to talk and know them. The recruits, well they are another story. Laura Harper is absolutely the funniest girl that I have ever met in my life. She comes from Philly and is about 6’3” and runs the floor like a deer. It was great getting a chance to see her play and spending a lot of time with her. Wanisha Smith is another girl that I got to know rather well on this trip. “Nish” is an unbelievable guard that has the whole package. She is really funny and anytime the three of us are together there is trouble.

Unfortunately, along with fun I had to work. Work involved keeping clock for an unbelievable amount of games. During my break time this girl named Bowie and I were partners in crime. We went out to eat, hung out and encountered some very strange things in Washington D.C.

On that Wednesday I met up with my brother Marcus who is a medical student at John Hopkins. We hung out, went out to dinner and just talked. I really miss having my brother around all the time, but from this trip I realize we have grown even closer as I have gotten older.

I returned home on Thursday and went to the doctor. My doctor, Marc Asselmeier, explained to me the extent of my surgery and what the process would be. I would definitely need to repair my ACL in order to continue competition.

That Friday the Nike Cup in Chicago began and you know I had to go check out my girl Sa’de Wiley- Gatewood and her West Coast All-star team stomp on people. I had a great time hanging out with her once again. Sa’de and Tulyah Gaines came back to my house and spent the night. I swear they just used my parents and I for food (smiles). We had fun just talking and laughing about everything. They ended winning the Nike Cup and they left on Sunday night to head to another tournament in New Orleans.

On Tuesday, July 29, I had surgery to repair my ACL. Everything went as planned and I was released from the hospital the very next day. Ever since then I have been sleeping and watching movies. Surprisingly, I have had no pain! Everyone I talked to told me that it was going to be the most painful surgery ever. I have had a great experience with that fortunately. I go to the doctor again on Wednesday and will let you know next time.

Until next time I will holla.

PLJ
CP#32