The BANMI U25 League finals MVP is doing well and is well on his way on the road to recovery. High-leaping swingman Jeremy Winkfield (185-F-87) of 2005 champions Toyota Prius broke a shinbone during the final game, he was expected to be released from the hospital yesterday. I used Shan Seman's article for SaipanTribune to cover this story.
Not new to tough challenges, Winkfield will spend the next six weeks with a cast on his left leg. The period will be followed with six weeks of rehabilitation. Despite the injury, the 18-year-old phenom said he will continue to see action in the sport, which he has been a dominating force each time he step foot on the hard court.
"I feel okay but still feel kind of disappointed," Winkfield said during a phone interview Sunday. "It's going to take a while.of course I'm going to play."
Winkfield added he still has his mind set on entering the U.S. Marines, however, his plans of leaving this October may be pushed back. Winkfield severely injured his left leg in the third quarter of the league's championship game between Toyota and Ulloa's Wednesday night at the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium. Prior to the injury, the gold medal swimmer and junior record holder of several track and field events had already pumped in a whopping 17 points. His final two points came on a thunderous two-handed slam dunk.
Winkfield was Toyota's main offensive weapon, going off for 224 points in 10 regular season games for fifth-best average of 18.7 points per outing, leading Prius to the pennant crown with a 9-1 win-loss card. He averaged 17.7 points per game in three outings in the playoffs.