June 9, 2009

USC guard Jacki Gemelos has had her USC playing career delayed once again due to a knee injury. Already the victim of three ligament tears that have kept the highly regarded guard out of competition for her first three seasons at USC, Gemelos has suffered another setback when she recently had surgery to replace the ACL graft in her left knee. Gemelos is expected to be sidelined from competition until January 2010.

This comes as a blow to the Trojan roster, as well as another frustrating obstacle for Gemelos, who came to USC as a freshman in 2006 as the top-ranked recruit out of high school. An ACL tear suffered in her final high school game forced Gemelos to redshirt her first year at USC. Before the start of the 2007-08 season, Gemelos reinjured that right knee and was unable to compete in what would have been her redshirt freshman year. Again, Gemelos came back from that injury and was ready to begin play for the 2008-09 season with her right knee ready to go. However, in October 2008, Gemelos injured the ligament in her left knee, taking her out of action for a third straight season.

The latest setback with her left knee enabled Gemelos to have surgery in late May and subsequently already begin rehabbing toward competition in the 2009-10 season. She is one of four McDonald's All-Americans returning to the USC roster next season.

"It's been so incredibly frustrating to have had this string of injuries," Gemelos said. "But I'm so focused on basketball and I want to play so badly that I refuse to let this stop me. My family and my teammates and my coaches have been so supportive, and the staff here at USC is doing everything possible to help me get healthy again so that I can play. I came to USC to play basketball and get a great education. Now I'm close to finishing my degree, and I'm determined to get out on the court and compete with my team. It's a lot of work - I know that from the past - but I also know that I can do it."