Every basketball player knows they will face different challenges in their career. For LSU forward Wendlyn Jones the struggle has been to just stay on the court.
A two-time All State selection at Blytheville High School in Grosnell, Ark., Jones arrived at LSU in the fall of 2001. Her freshman season ended abruptly on Nov. 10 when the 6-foot-1 forward tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee.
Jones redshirted and underwent surgery and extensive physical therapy, returning to the Lady Tigers for the 2002-2003 season. She played in 28 games off the bench, averaging 3.8 points and 2.1 rebounds per game.
Jones entered the 2003-2004 season projected as a starter for the Lady Tigers. However, the sophomore forward once again found herself on the sidelines when she again tore her ACL during practice in June, this time in her right knee.
Having already gone through one knee surgery and rehabilitation, Jones said she was devestated to learn that she would be forced to repeat the process.
“It was heart-breaking,” Jones said. “I’ve been here for three years and had two injuries that put me out for about six months. But I counted up the time and I knew that I was going to come back early. I was going to come back strong. I knew what I had to do, so I just took it and made the best of it.”
LSU Associate Coach Pokey Chatman said she was amazed at the way Jones stayed positive following her ACL injuries.
“I don’t know many people who have the mindset to come back from one, let alone two and the fact that Wendlyn was probably ready to go at four and a half months, but we waited a few extra weeks,” Chatman said.
“When she came in, she didn’t have that grace period, but that’s her mentality. She kind of goes about it quietly and attacks things, and it just seemes to carry over from her rehab on her knee to the court.”
Jones returned to the lineup on Dec. 15 against Sam Houston State and scored six points in nine minutes of play. She continued to improve her game and increase her minutes, eventually tying her career high with a 15 point performance against then No. 25 Arizona on Jan. 4.
While others were surprised by Jones’ quick return to the court, the forward said she knew all along she would be back.
“It’s been tough and hard,” Jones said. “I knew it would be, but I kept my head up. I knew the second time exactly what I had to do. The first time I came back strong, and I knew the second time that I would come back strong.”
Jones made her first career start in her home state of Arkansas scoring six points in a 73-65 win over the Razorbacks on Jan 22. In her second start the sophomore forward scored 12 points and grabbing 10 rebounds against No. 14 Georgia. Sunday in the PMAC Jones notched her second straight double-double with a 14-point 10-rebound performance in the win over South Carolina.
For the season, Jones is averaging 7.1 points and 4.7 rebounds per game.
Senior guard Temeka Johnson said Jones’s improved post presence will continue to help the Lady Tigers throughout the season.
“You can’t ask for a better post player,” Johnson said. “[Jones] is going to help us tremendously because a lot of people don’t give us enough respect in the post anyway so that’s a motivation point for her.”
Jones said she knows she will have to continue her strong play in the paint.
“We know that we have the three best guards in the country,” Jones said. “We know that teams are going to come out and try to take that away. So the post players have to step up offensively and be offensive threats to take pressure off the guards. We have to be well-rounded team if we’re going to win a national championship.”