Henson Battles Through Injuries to Make Impact

By Brad Amersbach, GoDuke The Magazine

DURHAM, N.C.-- Injuries are an unfortunate part of sports. The strain and demands of high-level competition can break down an athlete's body. Duke senior forward Amber Henson is all too familiar with this reality of collegiate athletics.

Standing 6-foot-4, Henson is accustomed to the aches and pains that come along with being a taller individual, so when she started to experience knee discomfort late in her high school career, she chalked it up to her stature. When the pain in her right knee persisted, however, Henson knew it was more than just the tendinitis she typically played through. Having already committed to Duke, Henson decided to reach out to the team's medical staff for an expert's opinion. The results of the examination suggested a scope of the knee could alleviate Henson's pain, but not long after the procedure, the aching returned.

After Henson's high school career ended and she arrived on Duke's campus, the knee pain continued to persist and additional tests followed. The results of the tests suggested a more complex procedure was needed to rectify the issues that Henson was experiencing, which required the cartilage under her kneecap to be replaced.

“It was a pretty intense procedure,” Henson recalled. “They told me it was going to be six to nine months for recovery. It ended up being over a year. I kept having other procedures after that. It was a pretty frustrating road, but we have a great medical staff (at Duke). They gave me hope. They let me keep the faith that I would be able to play again.”

In all, Henson went through six separate surgeries to correct her knee ailment, playing in just eight games during her freshman season and missing her entire sophomore season. Henson's time on the sideline in her first two years at Duke left her feeling frustrated and unsure of her future in the sport.

“There were times I was smiling on my face, but in the back of my mind, I thought, 'I might never play basketball again,'” Henson reflected. “That can mess with you, when your whole life you've worked to play here and do this.”

To get through the difficult time, Henson surrounded herself with a support group that could help her cope with the frustration and anger that accompanied her multiple surgeries.

“I had great teammates,” Henson said. “I can't say enough about how my senior class helped me through it. If it wasn't for them pushing me, laughing with me and motivating me, I don't think I would still be playing basketball. I owe a lot to them.”

Though Henson credits her teammates for helping her through a challenging time in her career, she also recognizes the commitment of Duke's coaching staff. Rather than isolate Henson because she was unable to contribute to the team on the court, the coaching staff maintained its support for her and emphasized their excitement in having Henson return to full strength

“It's all about the team first, obviously,” Henson said. “There are 12 other girls out here who want to play really bad. My injury is obviously not their first concern, but at the same time, Coach (Al) Brown and Coach (Joanne P. McCallie) were always saying how excited they were to have me back.”

Rather than give up on the injury-plagued forward, the Duke coaching staff was confident she would rebound from the adversity she faced and become a contributing member of Duke's team.

“Her teammates are special,” McCallie said. “We have a great team, with real character people and people that understand and want so much for Amber. The same is true for the staff. We've all felt the pain of what she's gone through. I've never known anybody to have six surgeries before, in any part of life. Our heart goes out to her.”

Although the support of both her teammates and coaches helped the mental side of the rehabilitation process, there were times that Henson needed other outlets that filled the void left by not playing basketball. Fortunately for Henson, she didn't need to look far to find other interests.

“Coming to a school like Duke, there are so many other things you can do to fill the time, to make yourself a well-rounded person,” Henson said. “I think that's something I struggled with at first, but as I realized I couldn't spend as much time on basketball as I wanted to, I reached out to other areas of campus, and that made me well rounded. It's also about the team. If the team is doing well, you find something you can add. The seasons I wasn't playing, I was a voice in the locker room and kept the spirits light.”

After two years of rehabilitation, Henson finally found herself back on the court, taking the floor for 27 of Duke's 35 games during the 2013-14 season, including five starts. Being away from the game for so long, the year of competition allowed Henson to acclimate herself to the speed of the college game.

“Last year was a 'learn how to play basketball again' type of year for me, because I hadn't played for two years,” she said. “It was a huge adjustment last year, even just being back on the court. I think last year, confidence in my body was a big issue. There were some things that I knew I was supposed to do, but I was iffy. Mentally, even still, there are some things that I know I'm supposed to do, and I know I have to do it, but my legs just don't go. It's still shaky, but it's gotten so much better. It's a great feeling and I'm thankful for my coaches in fostering that in me.”

This season, Henson has made an immediate impact for the Blue Devils, contributing on both ends of the floor in the early stages of the 2014-15 campaign. With Henson's performances this season providing just a glimpse of what she can accomplish on the hardwood when healthy, McCallie is excited to think about how her game can contribute to the team.

“Amber has game,” McCallie said. “She has confidence in her game. She is a beautiful shooter from high post, short corners and three-point shots. She has wonderful post moves around the basket. Every now and again, when she gets that attitude, her competitive fire is most impressive. It's something that is very valuable to our team. It catches on to others, because she loves to compete and go after things. I think that's a very special trait that she has.”

With the Blue Devils heading into the heart of their season, both McCallie and Duke fans can look forward to watching the contagious nature of Henson's competitive spirit as her own confidence continues to grow.

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Henson Battles Through Injuries to Make Impact

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