Stone provides foundation in frontcourt
By Andres Cardenas
Daily Forty-Niner
After missing the start of last year's
basketball season, junior forward Grant Stone is eager to start this season.
Last year, he missed the first five games
with a foot injury he sustained at the 1998 Big West Conference Tournament.
"It was real frustrating," Stone said.
"The hardest thing was just dealing with
the fact that I had an injury."
This was the first time Stone had to deal
with an injury in his career.
Stone said that it occurred when he stepped
on the ankle of an opponent.
Stone said he fractured a hereditary bone
that is only present in ten percent of all people.
After being on crutches for 10 weeks, Stone
said he began a three-month road of rehabilitation, which included water
training and bike work with gradual running.
When Stone did return last season, he appeared
in 23 games and started in eight of them.
He averaged 15.7 minutes per game.
In his two-year career at LBSU, he has
averaged 21. 9 minutes per game, 4.5 points per game and 4.1 rebounds a
game.
Spotting him in a game won't be difficult
since he is known for his hustle on the court and his tendencies to be
vocal.
"I am looking forward to being a catalyst,"
Stone said.
"I bring a lot of energy, enthusiasm and
leadership."
Stone is originally from Tulsa, Okla.
He said that coming to LBSU was a hard
thing to carry out, especially with being away from his family.
"One of the hardest things was moving into
the dorms and seeing everyone else's family move them in and not having
my family here," Stone said.
However, he said that coming to LBSU has
been an excellent decision.
"I love it, I'm involved in a lot of things
at school," Stone said. "I am president ambassador, I'm in a fraternity
and I've got lot of good friends out here."
Stone has become a fan favorite with his
blue-collar work ethic on the court.
He has provided toughness to a team that
lacked it around the basket the past two years.
Stone said his foot is stronger now and
he is not afraid of re-injuring it.
LBSU Head Coach Wayne Morgan said that
Stone had a very productive off-season.
"His off-season has been extremely valuable,"
Morgan said.
"Physically, he may be in the best condition
of anyone on the team." |
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