DCA Star Grace Mbugua has a Torn ACL

Chris Zollner Photo

A sensational junior season at Danville Christian Academy elevated 6-5 Grace Mbugua into one of the state’s elite players but now her senior year — or at least a big part of it — could be in jeopardy.

Mbugua ranked among the top 10 in the state in scoring (25.7 points per game, fifth), rebounding (15.4 per game, second) and field-goal shooting (61.8 percent, seventh) during her junior season. She also averaged 6.6 blocks per game.

However, during a recent basketball camp in Tennessee she tore her ACL and is scheduled to meet with a West Virginia surgeon Monday to evaluate what lies ahead.

“There wasn’t any contact or anything. She was just taking a shot,” DCA coach Billy Inmon said. “It was a pretty big shock. I thought she had sprained her knee. It never did swell up bad and she has not been in a lot of pain. She’s a pretty tough kid. She’s never been hurt.”

When confirmation came Tuesday that she had torn her ACL, Inmon immediately contacted the numerous college coaches recruiting Mbugua.

“I texted all the coaches before telling anybody else,” Inmon said. “They all said for her not to worry about her scholarship. They all said her offer was still good.”

Mbugua had 19 points for the Kentucky junior all-stars recently in a loss to the Kentucky senior team.

“She was the best player in the game. She only had 19 points even though she didn’t play the whole game to lead all scorers,” Inmon said. “When the game was close, she took over.”

Inmon says he’s not sure what will happen until they see a specialist in West Virginia who uses a “little different technique for better and stronger healing.”

This week Inmon and Mbugua have been at Camp Lewis at Faith Mountain Mission in eastern Kentucky. Inmon has been the volunteer camp director for the youth camp for years and his father even attended the camp as a youngster.

“She’s just a determined camper. She’s been coming every year except last year when she had to go back to Kenya in the summer,” Inmon said. “She wanted to come.She got fitted for a brace, got her crutches and here we are. She is very determined. She memorized 35 (Bible) verses, said them all and won the team competition for her team. She hit every verse, every reference. She’s just incredible when she puts her mind to something.”

Inmon is not speculating on when she might be able to play basketball again.

“I am not going to push her (in rehab) but I have never had to. She has a great work ethic,” the DCA coach said. “Who knows what will happen? She has a strong faith and a great attitude. We’ll see what the surgeon says and go from there.”