Life After Fraley – How player and club have fared post-injury
With the BBL Trophy Final against the Sheffield Sharks coming on Saturday 9th March and the BBL Cup already in their possession, life after John Fraley wasn’t meant to be this sweet for the Leicester Riders.
It was the fifth game of the 2012/13 season for the Leicester Riders and they were playing for the second time in as many days – a Championship fixture at the Newton Aycliffe Leisure Centre against the Durham Wildcats – when late in the fourth quarter and with the Riders struggling to put away a determined Wildcats side, the Riders suffered a devastating blow as 6’11 centre John Fraley hit the deck, the victim of a freak incident.
“I remember driving to the basket and my right leg slipping and someone’s foot getting caught under mine,” remembered Fraley as he described the moment his season ended. “My first thought was ‘Please don’t let there be anything wrong with my knee’ because even when I was going down, I saw my knee fully twist around.”
In a season that had promised so much for Fraley, it looked inevitable that it would come to a premature and cruel end. And when the diagnosis of a torn ACL was made a fortnight later, Fraley’s worst fears were realised.
“I actually went to see a knee specialist and after he saw my MRI he instantly said that I’d completely torn my ACL,” Fraley explained. “Before the diagnosis, I was hoping for the best but at the same time, preparing that I might actually be done for the season.”
At the same time that 25-year-old Fraley was being handed a rehabilitation timetable, a defiant Leicester Riders team was running off 10 wins out of 11, including a statement win over the Newcastle Eagles just seven days removed from the Durham game. It was a clear message to the rest of the BBL that although their star centre was sidelined, their quest for honours were not going to be.
In order to maintain their push for silverware, the Riders acknowledged the need for another front-court body. Enter Anthony Rowe.
Anthony Rowe, the 27-year-old South Coast native, was recovering from off-season surgery when the Plymouth Raiders released him. His surprise availability was perfect timing for the Riders who, up until that time, hadn’t found a suitable replacement for Fraley.
“It took a little while for us to get the diagnosis (for Fraley) and when we found that out, we were saddened about our club going forward because we felt like he could be one of the best players in the league,” said Leicester Riders coach Rob Paternostro.
“Once we knew John was done for the season, then we started to look (at replacements). Anthony’s representatives contacted us and we contacted Plymouth and were given the go-ahead. He just fit well; not just from a basketball sense but personality-wise.
With new man Rowe holding down the middle, the Leicester Riders continued their march toward trophies, reaching and winning the BBL Cup Final in mid-January with an 85-80 win over the reigning cup-holders, the Newcastle Eagles.
It was the first finals win for the club in over a decade and the post-game champagne celebrations and precious moments with supportive family members reflected the relief of shedding such a heavy burden. But in a moment of quiet, away from the crowds, Forward Jay Couisnard revealed his disappointment at not being able to share the moment with his missing team-mate and brother, John Fraley.
“John Fraley is my boy and I know if he was here, we probably would have been undefeated right now,” said Couisnard, speaking of the Riders’ 14-2 start to the season. “John Fraley was probably one of the best big men I ever played with and it’s unfortunate that he went down with a terrible injury.”
Those sentiments have since been echoed by Coach Paternostro who builds his squads around versatility but privately values the chemistry and character of the players just as highly. With Fraley, his production on the floor -17.4ppg, 12.4rpg which are still both top ten and leading the league respectively – was only matched by his attractive personality, evidenced by the close contact the team has had with their fallen star since he returned to America.
“I’ve been in contact with him throughout the season,” said Coach Paternostro. “He was here for a couple of months and I think all of us got close to him.”
That regular contact has helped Fraley’s rehabilitation, keeping him mentally strong when he felt physically weak.
“I’ve had a lot of support from my family, friends and even my team back in England,” said Fraley. “I managed to stay in good spirits due to the fact that I have great team-mates and coaches. They always checked up on me and made sure I was alright.”
“The rehab has been pretty tough both mentally and physically. It’s basically learning how to use your leg all over again. That requires things like getting the strength back in my leg and also my flexibility which plays a major part in my rehab. I have a week before I get cleared to run and put up shots (but) as far as light practices and full games, I don’t know.”
Just over four months since the incident that had the potential to blow-apart the Riders’ season, the club have claimed the BBL Cup and are mere days away from competing in the BBL Trophy Final, their second chance of silverware this season. For Fraley, success is measured on a different scale now, with trophy triumphs being replaced by the victories that pain-free moments hold. But that doesn’t mean Fraley isn’t keeping one eye on his former team-mates while he works hard on his return.
“I’ve been keeping up with the team – they’ve been playing great team basketball. I saw how hard each player pushed one another to get better as a unit (and) once you have that type of determination, plus great coaches and awesome fans, you’re bound to have a great season of basketball like the Riders are having now.”
Everything he sees on the court and observes in the boxscore is a reminder of what he could have achieved had fate not chosen for him a different path. And maybe that’s why his aim for the 2013/14 season is simply: “To come back and finish what I started.”
