friday, april 9, 2004
sports
the university daily kansan
7A
IRELAND: Former student overcomes injury woes and bounces back in overseas league
CONTINUED FROM 12A
Although their educations were their top priorities, they both planned to attend walk-on tryouts. After tryouts ended, the Jayhawk hopefuls learned there was no room on the team for any walk-ons.
Bracey didn't try out the next year. He had become occupied with student life and hadn't stayed in shape. He also had to deal with another unexpected obstacle: his father's suicide. West, who considered Bracey's father like his own, said the suicide was completely unexpected. Bracey offered to stay with his mother in Chicago but she insisted he go back to school.
"I still loved the hoop, but I didn't feel like trying out again," Bracey said.
By the end of the year Brucey's brother, Bryan, had earned a scholarship to the University of Oregon and was playing on
ESPN. His brother continued to advise him to use his basketball skills instead of wasting them. Bracey said he realized playing basketball meant more to him than going out to Jack Flanigans on the weekends.
He transferred to a junior college in California. After one year, he earned a scholarship at West Texas A&M University. Four games into the season, he faced yet another setback.
Tough road to success
His first season in Texas, Bracey continued to play with what he thought was muscle pain. He now knows that he had developed a cyst on his femur, which had weakened the bone. Bracey was fouled on a dunk attempt. When he hit the ground, the bone snapped.
He saw his inner thigh bulging out and felt something rip. The trainers later said they had never seen anything like it. Bracey lay
on the ground and stared at the ceiling. Every one tried to keep him calm, telling him it was a muscle tear. But Bracey could tell it was worse.
"They all looked really grossed out," he said.
He missed the rest of the season and part of the next season recovering from the injury. His mother still worries about him playing with a metal rod in his legs.
After the injury, Bracey thought he might never play again. He questioned whether all the work he put in was worth it. West said he couldn't stand to know that his best friend was depressed, in pain and losing strength.
Sixteen months later, Bracey began playing limited minutes.
"I've never been much of a quitter," he said. "It was just another challenge for me."
By the end of the season he was averaging 15 points per game and helped his team win the conference tournament. He had still missed too many games to consider getting any post-collegiate attention.
memorandum
"I thought I was done hoopin' at the end of the season," he said.
Stepping stone
Summer of 2003 came, and Bracey got another chance; a call from Ireland.
Rus Bradbury was the coach of Horans Healthstore Tigers, a professional European team in Traule, Ireland. He had heard about Bracey through a chain of information that led back to an agent representing Bracey's brother. Bradbury offered Bracey a spot on the team for the 2003-2004 season.
"I took a look at his career and saw the best was yet to come," Bradburd said.
Each Irish team is allowed a certain number of American citizens. The team already had its quota of Americans, but Bracey's
case was unusual. He was able to get an Irish passport and citizenship because his grandparents were Irish.
Bracey took the opportunity to push himself to a new level. He had to adjust to the weather, the Irish accents and the size of the country. For the 6-foot-5, 195-pound forward with a size 13 shoe, just taking a shower was a struggle.
"Everything there is just so small," he said. "The fridge came up to my knees."
Despite the adjustment and homesickness, Bracey stayed focused and averaged 18 points and 8 rebounds. He was named 2nd team All-Ireland and most valuable player of the playoffs.
The Tigers had been the worst professional team in Ireland the year before, earning only five victories. Last season they were the best team in the country with a 16-4 record. Bradburd said Bracey was the biggest reason for
the team's success.
Bracey also finished his undergraduate degree in criminal justice while he was in Ireland. His mother, who supported his dreams but stressed education, said her son would have been a success no matter what he did.
West said he knew Bracey's determination and talent would carry him further in basketball.
"I said this is what you're supposed to be doing," West said. "I always told him, 'You're the man.'"
In the next few years, Bracey will most likely earn a six-figure contract in Europe, Bradurd said. He may also get an opportunity to play in the Olympics with the Irish national team. Bradurd called Bracey the most improved player in the world in the last four years.
"His career is on a tremendous upward trajectory," Bradburd said. "He's a guy who came from nowhere and became a hero."
- Edited by Robert Perkins
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