LSU Basketball forward Jalen Reed suffered a devastating torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) during the opening minutes of a game against the Florida State Seminoles, abruptly sidelining him for the remainder of the season.

Entering his third season in the Purple and Gold, the Jackson native recalls the moments surrounding this unfortunate unfolding of events and his initial thoughts about the magnitude of this injury.

“I took it all the way to the rim [and] jumped off my right leg, thinking I was going to dunk, but I didn’t get the elevation I wanted,” Reed said. “I finished it, took the two points. [However] I didn’t focus on my landing, and my knee caught on the ground. It instantly felt like a strong sting.”

Unbeknownst to Reed, he had just suffered one of the most difficult injuries to recover from.

“My first thought was… I need to get up,” Reed said. “I want[ed] to stay in the game, and I knew that if I [didn’t] get up it would only get worse. Like with any injury, the more you sit down the more time you have to swell and time for it to settle in… so I need[ed] to get up and walk.”

However, the harsh realization of the nature of this injury would soon come to light.

“So I get up and walk, and as I try to walk, it felt like my leg wasn’t attached anymore,” Reed said. “That’s when I told them at half court, ‘Pick me up. I can’t walk,’ and I knew it was serious.”

Ranging from early morning training sessions to late night shoot arounds, Reed’s tremendous improvements made during such a productive offseason suffered a substantial setback.

Starting in all of the first eight games this season for LSU (which boasted a 7-1 record), Reed found himself averaging an impressive 11.1 points and 6.5 rebounds per game.

Reed, who anticipated a more involved role on both sides of the court and is known for his adamant leadership throughout the locker room, was honored by his teammates to be named team captain heading into this season.

When discussing the behind-the-scenes obstacles that players face when recovering from a season-ending injury, LSU Basketball Head Coach McMahon emphasizes the importance of having an uplifting personality and optimistic mindset.

“I’ve been so impressed with him; he’s got a great outlook on life and how he’s going to attack his rehab… also handling the adversity of [this injury],” Head Coach Matt McMahon said. “I always try to put it into perspective, for a guy who for 20 years has worked toward this goal… he gets off to a great start, had an unbelievable offseason… just to have it all taken away from him.”

Additionally, McMahon believes having the support of teammates is crucial for the recovery process and allows players facing such instances of hardship not to feel alone throughout.“Having a great support system around… it really allows to see the bigger picture,” McMahon said. “I think [Reed]’s done a phenomenal job so far.”

By welcoming five freshmen and four transfer players to this season’s roster, the opportunity to develop relationships with his new teammates has arisen as Reed continues to deal with the repercussions of this injury.

From having his teammates be his personal chauffeurs to providing him with meals due to his inability to walk during the beginning stages of his recovery process, Reed has realized that these friendships go beyond the game of basketball.

“This has probably been one of the most difficult physical processes in my life, especially managing the pain, not being able to walk, even stuff like tak[ing] shower that are sometimes taken for granted,” Reed said. “Having my teammates bring me water and food… I even had one teammate clean my room one time. It’s a brotherhood for sure, and I’ve seen it each and every day since [the injury] happened.”

For certain athletes, suffering injuries, such as a torn ACL, that require prolonged reconstruction efforts can become overwhelming as they encounter looming worries about potentially not being able to return to their former level of performance in their respective sport.

Despite having to start from ground zero, Reed takes pride in embracing the hardest tribulations of his entire life. He’s a firm believer that his eventual return to the court will be highlighted by an increased level of performance and that being subjected to this injury will actually make him better.

“I feel like the level I’m at didn’t even reflect in my numbers,” Reed said. “The recovery process can make you better as a player and also as a man… there’s only growth in it. I still think I have more to show, and I’m definitely excited to show that to the people when I get back out there.”

Considering himself to be one of the better players in the nation coming into this season, one question arises with undergoing such considerable amounts of mental and physical adversity:

“I mean, if you’re not willing to do what it takes to come back and put that work in again, then what was the point of putting in work in the first place?” Reed asked.

Looking toward next season, Reed aspires to put together the best season of his collegiate career and remains dedicated to trusting the process of his unique journey back to the court.