Though He May have Lost His Foot, Hopes Springs Eternal For Kenny George

It’s hard not to feel bad for UNC-Asheville center Kenny George. At 7’7”, he is by far the tallest basketball player in the NCAA, and height like that will certainly guarantee him a few solid earning years in a European league, if not the NBA. But a devastating infection may cost George part of his foot, making it unlikely he would ever play ball again.
That’s not to say he doesn’t have hope on his side. Those most familiar with the situation are insistent that this quite unique and potentially career-ending injury will only be a one-year setback, missing foot notwithstanding.

George needed surgery after contracting a staph infection, the Asheville Citizen-Times reported. ESPN.com said the 22-year-old player had surgery three weeks ago is expected to remain in an Iowa hospital for at least another month.

When reached by phone Sunday by the Associated Press, UNC Asheville coach Eddie Biedenbach wouldn’t confirm the reports, saying he was respecting George’s wish for privacy.

“This is a terrible setback for Kenny George that he’s not going to be able to play basketball this year,” Biedenbach said. “He’s worked so hard from the time he was in high school and earlier to get to the point to do what he did last year.”

George has had a few legit injuries before, but nothing as serious as this. But we have to believe that, if the reports are true and he has lost at least part of his foot, his basketball career is more than likely over, no matter what Biedenbach thinks. It’s not like you don’t need your foot to run the court, and this guy’s so big that any lost leverage could destroy what modest game he has.
We do wish him luck, however. He does have size 26 shoes, so it is possible that only a small loss could keep him on the court. And we can point to athletes like pitcher Jim Abbot and former New Orleans Saints’ kicker Tom Dempsey, both of whom were missing appendages (or parts thereof) and were still able to have successful professional careers. Dempsey at one point held the record for the longest NFL field goal, despite missing half of his kicking foot, a record he now shares with Jason Elam.

But the idea that he might make a strong return next year, to us, seems a little far-fetched. Godspeed, Mr. George.
George, 7-7, out amid reports of foot amputation [AP]
Image [US Newswire]