Barry Wright
Karol Derech's basketball playing career at McMaster University is on hold.
The St. Patrick’s High School grad, who agreed in June to attend the Hamilton school, will sit out this season following surgery next month on his hip.
“It's called FAI,” said 6'9” forward. “It's a bone deformity which results in a labrum tear,” he added.
The tear causes the hip bones to rub against each other and causes damage to the joint, according to the Mayo Clinic website.
“It's not a sports injury. I just grew into it,” said the aspiring physician, who attended St. Michael in Bright's Grove before graduating to St. Christopher. He ended his high school career wearing the Irish colours after the two schools amalgamated in 2013.
Derech will be red-shirted this season by the Marauders, meaning his athletic eligibility won't begin until next season.
In the interim, he will begin his road to recovery soon after the mid-November surgery, but won't be fully healed until next spring.
“It's going to take a week or two (after surgery) to be able to put more weight on my leg through my hip,” said the well-spoken 18-year-old. “After the initial week or two, I can begin physiotherapy and things such as squatting and strengthening the leg. But, it's going to be about five months to be back to 100%,” Derech said.
“I can still work on fundamentals, such as shooting, but in terms of sprinting and jumping, it's going to take a long time so the hip can get used to the adjustment in the bone.”
Notwithstanding the disappointment of not being able to play this season, Derech has enjoyed the transition from high school to post-secondary hoops, saying the biggest difference between the two levels is the size and strength of players at the university level.
“The intensity in the gym is always high,” he said. “People are always competing for minutes.”