Eric Devendorf sat idly on a chair alongside the Manley Field House basketball court last Friday. He watched teammates shoot around from the sideline, an isolation Devendorf never quite grew immune to last season. He strapped on his bulky black knee brace and tied his shoes, struggling to articulate just how refreshing it feels to play again.

Then the voice of assistant coach Mike Hopkins snagged his attention. The same Mike Hopkins that Devendorf spilled into against East Tennessee State, last year when he tore his anterior cruciate ligament. Devendorf shuffled toward his coach, and Hopkins whiplashed a hard low five at the Syracuse guard, followed by a harder chest bump.

Eric Devendorf can finally play basketball again.

‘It’s a great feeling,’ Devendorf said. ‘I’m doing what I love to do and having fun with my teammates, running up and down playing.’

Since early August, Monday through Friday, Devendorf has participated in preseason workouts. Nine months after tearing his ACL, Devendorf can do everything – three-on-two fastbreak drills, half-court offense drills, everything. He does feel occasional soreness that requires ice afterward, but ‘nothing that hurts.’

Devendorf credits his recovery to athletic trainer Brad Pike and strength and conditioning coach Ryan Cabiles. The tandem implemented a meticulous schedule stringent on not pushing too hard, while still pushing hard enough to ensure that the junior guard is at 100 percent for this season.

‘Man, it’s tough coming off that surgery,’ said Devendorf, who was granted an extra year of eligibility last week. ‘It’s probably some of the most grueling stuff you can go through as far as having your knee straightened again and having to bend it all the way back.’

Devendorf’s rehab exercises were based on quick, stop-and-start lateral movement to simulate game action. Slowly, simulation gave way to reality. First, one-on-one games in early July, then 3-on-3 a few weeks later, and finally 5-on-5 in August.

With Devendorf and fellow guard Andy Rautins both shelved for the season with ACL injuries, Syracuse’s offense perished last season. The Orange ranked 15th of 16 Big East teams in 3-point field goal percentage (30 percent) and lost five of its final nine games before a second straight NIT consolation.

Through it all, Devendorf refused to scratch his itch. Refused to sneak in some pickup games, rather sticking to the disciplined plan Pike and Cabiles laid out.

‘I had to limit myself from playing and doing certain things,’ Devendorf said. ‘I was pretty religious with what I had to do on a daily basis. I wasn’t going to do anything that hurt myself.’

The steadfast plan worked, Hopkins said.

‘It’s like the Six Million Dollar Man,’ Hopkins said. ‘They build you faster, quicker, stronger. Surgery is not like it used to be 10, 15 years ago. These guys come back from injuries better … He still shoots the ball like he does. He’s got that quick first step. I don’t know percentage-wise what degree he’ll be back, at but he’s pretty darn close.’

Now, Devendorf’s focus is explosiveness. Catching a pass and pushing off that left knee with regularity to penetrate into the lane before defenses can slide.

Hopkins knew that the 6-foot-4, 178-pound guard would be ready physically. But regaining explosiveness is half-mental. Hopkins was skeptical whether the Devendorf of old – slashing into the paint with that snarl – would resurface.

‘The concern for me was how would he handle it mentally?’ Hopkins said. ‘When you’re taking the ball to the basket can you get it out of your mind? I can’t even imagine doing that and not only having the pain, but the mental scars. Just from what I’ve seen from some of the workouts is that he’s come back unbelievably good.’

Devendorf is quick to refute the notion he’d alter his game due to the injury. He doesn’t plan on pumping the breaks or settling for 3s around the key on his rehabbed knee. In two months of full-court 5-on-5 action, Devendorf has convinced him that his style will not dumb down.

‘I’m still going to be the same player,’ Devendorf said. ‘I’m still that aggressive-type player that gets to the basket and gets to the free throw line. If they let me shoot the open jumper, I’m going to knock that down too.’

After the workout Friday, Devendorf reclaimed his seat on the sideline and wiped off the light sweat on his forehead. Hopkins reappeared. The coach gave Devendorf another slap on the hand.

‘This is the baddest mother on the planet!’ Hopkins beamed.

Devendorf just smiled, nothing too fiery yet. No cause for celebration until the season starts. And he has no idea what that first game will feel like.

‘I can’t even tell you man,’ he said. ‘I can’t tell you until it happens. I’m sure it’s going to be a great feeling.’

thdunne@syr.edu

Published on September 30, 2008 at 12:00 pm