HickoryHusker.com - Howell Has Message For Young Hoopsters

April 13, 2005

Purdue signee Jodi Howell's got a pretty simple message to send to young female athletes ? even if you suffer an ACL injury, it doesn't mean your career is over.

Either, as was in Howell's case, will two ACL injuries.

"I think it's important that her story be told for generations of young girls coming up," her father and high school coach Jon Howell said, "that you can endure an ACL injury and come back, or better yet, you can endure two ACL injuries and come back even stronger. It's not a death sentence to play sports after a second injury."

By now, the Howell's consider themselves experts on the subject. Jon Howell, the 23-year head coach at Alexandria (Ind.) High School, has seen 17 ACL injuries in the last 12 years. Two of those belong to Jodi Howell, who overcame both during her outstanding prep career to become the 2005 Indiana Miss Basketball.

In the final practice of her eighth grade season, Howell tore the ACL in her left knee. Still, she recovered in time to put in a full season her freshman year at Alexandria. Then, near the beginning of her junior season, it happened again ? this time to her right knee.

She returned for her senior season, however, to average 28.7 points per game, declaring both her knees stronger than ever. And, despite missing most of her junior season, the 5-foot-11 guard still ranks as the 17th-leading scorer in the history of Indiana girls high school basketball.

That resiliency, she says, should not be overlooked.

"I think it's a great message," she said. "They just have to believe that they can do it because if you don't have confidence in yourself then you don't have anything."

Howell has been able to spread her message a couple of times on a personal level. On two occasions over the last year, injured players have contacted her out of the blue, seeking advice on everything from expected recovery time to whether Division I schools will still consider recruiting them. Howell has been ready with advice each time.

"I just talk to them for a while about how they are feeling, tell them 'you can get through this, just believe in yourself, you'll be fine and come back stronger than you were,'" she said. "I just try to give them some confidence."

Although there may be differing theories on exactly why females are more prone to serious knee injuries, Jon Howell says there is not doubt that it is a problem, going as far as to call it "the plague of women's sports.

"It's something that parents of female athletes need to put in the back of their minds," he said. "It can happen to anybody at anytime. They shouldn't be caught off guard because it happens to so many athletes every year.

"The fact is that these kids need to hear about these experiences. So it's not the 'dreaded' ACL any more."

With both knees feeling strong, Howell plans to have an active off-season, as she prepares to join three others ? post players Danielle Campbell (Chicago) and Stephanie Helgeson (New Orleans) and fellow guard Lauren Mioton (River Ridge, La.) ? on the Boilers' squad next season.

She will play for the Indiana All-Stars in their series against Kentucky this summer, wearing the traditional No. 1 jersey that Miss Basketball gets to wear, while also taking an online course at Purdue.

As for her own individual workouts, Howell wants to improve her overall athleticism, with a particular emphasis on foot speed and defense.

"I just want to be ready to do whatever I can do to help next year," Howell said. "? I think they are showing great potential for next year, and I'm just really excited about it."

In the meantime, the Howells will continue giving advice to anyone else who's suffered an injury setback.

"Jodi came back stronger and a better athlete after she experienced the first injury," Jon Howell said. "Then, after the second one she was even better.

"It's something that can be overcome and you have to have a determination going into it. It's an unfortunate message but a terrific message for kids coming up."

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