From Twisted Knee to Twist of Fate

By: Jill Wallenhorst

Born to play

From very early on in his life, Ben Sander loved the game of basketball.  It seemed as though the day he began walking, was the day he picked up a ball.  Ben played on his first team as early as 3 years old, and when asked if he knew that playing basketball was something he wanted to do at such a young age, Ben simply stated that “It was the only thing I really wanted to do.”  It was as if he was born to play the game.  By the time his freshman year rolled around, Ben was playing for the high school team and filled with excitement in thoughts of where his talents would someday take him. However, Ben and his family could have never imagined the unfortunate and life-changing events that would take place in the next couple of years. 

High School Star 

The two years that Ben played in high school, he proved what a dedicated and well rounded player he was.  By sophomore year he was the starting point guard and the dream of playing basketball in college became one of reality.  Things were going great and the season was in full swing, but no one was expecting what happened next.  One night towards the start of his junior season, Ben was injured during a play and fell to the ground in the middle of the game.

“It happened four games into my junior year, and I knew right away that something bad had happened,” Ben said. 

The injury 

Ben's knee post-surgery

Ben and his family were told that his injuries consisted of a torn PCL and torn and flipped meniscus in his right knee. Despite the injury, Ben hoped to play again. Post-surgery, he went through extensive rehab and prepared himself to play the senior season.  Everyday work outs and one-on-one games with the high school coach proved to be working, as both Ben and the team were certain that he would be playing in the upcoming year. Just when all seemed to be back to normal, things took a turn for the worst. While training one day, Ben went to cut across, putting all the pressure on his right knee, and the exact same injury happened again, only this time it was worse. He would never play competitively again. Ben was devastated and revealed, “It made me depressed, I cried, and wasn’t myself for awhile.” Yet when everything else seemed lost, he received a phone call that would help to turn it all around. 

A Life in Arizona

The person calling was the assistant basketball coach at the University of Arizona. He told Ben that he had heard of what happened, and how terrible he felt for the way things ended up. The basketball program then proceeded to offer Ben a spot as the student manager for the Arizona men’s basketball team, as well as a scholarship that would pay for his tuition. Ben and his family were ecstatic. When asked about the initial moment of receiving the call from arizona, Ben said,“It was finally some good news after two years of bad and disappointing news,” he added “It gave me something to look forward to.” 


College basketball is more than just the physical aspect of running up and down the court, making baskets, and winning the game. It is about the friendships you make and the bond that comes with being a part of something that is bigger than yourself. From the beginning, nearly everyone who knew Ben would agree that he deserved to go to college for basketball. While he may not have gotten the chance to play, Ben still got what matters most: being a member of the team. 

Timeline of Events

Year	Event
1997	Ben Plays on his first team
November  2007	Begins playing on the high school team
December 2009	Injury in 4th game of junior season
December 2009	Undergoes extensive knee surgery
Summer 2010	Begins rehab, plans to play senior season
Fall 2010	Experiences similar injury, told he will not be able to play competitively again
Winter 2011	Receives call from Arizona coach, offered spot as student manager and a scholarship
August 2011	Moves to Arizona and begins life as student and student manager for men’s basketball team