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Missouri's Most Viewed Stories of 2014: No. 9 - Benes Out For 2014 With ACL Injury

December 23, 2014

Shon Plack
Missouri Scouting Director

As we are coming to the end of another calendar year, we are going to countdown the top ten most viewed Missouri news stories of 2014.  According to our research through our google analytics, these are the most viewed news stories by you the reader in 2014.

9. Benes Out for 2014 With ACL Injury

The ninth most read article in 2014, was an article by PBR's National Supervisor, Nathan Rode.  The story, on March 3, attracted a lot of attention.

By Nathan Rode
National Supervisor

Shane BenesSS Shane Benes (Westminster Christian Academy, MO), the No. 3 prospect in the PBR Overall Rankings and an early-round draft prospect, will miss his senior season after tearing his right anterior cruciate ligament in a basketball game a few weeks ago. A Missouri recruit, Benes had surgery and is now in a brace that goes from just below his hip down to his ankle. While the brace can come off in a couple weeks, he won’t be able to start jogging or doing other light activities until mid-May. The expected time for a full recovery and clearance to play in games is six months, which would be August for Benes.

“I was driving baseline with the ball and went up for a layup,” Benes said. “My foot was turned in and my momentum kept taking me forward. I tried to jump off of it and I just felt it right there. My whole knee just shifted and I felt a pop. I went straight down. It was the most painful injury I've ever experienced for sure.”

Thoughts were racing through Benes head while on the floor with him wondering how it happened and how much time he was going to miss. He was on crutches following the surgery, but is off of them as of Monday and can now walk in his brace as long as it is locked in a straight position. He’s allowed to unlock it and bend it slightly when sitting.

Benes’ injury takes a big bat out of the Wildcats’ lineup and a strong arm that contributes on the mound as well. It also changes Benes’ role on the team.

“My role as a leader has completely changed,” he said. “I led by example, by how I played on the field. I've never really been much of a vocal leader like the guy who pumps everyone up before the game. Definitely this year I can't do that. I can still lead with my actions by the way I go about my rehab and attitude toward my teammates, trying to encourage them.”

Furthermore, Benes won’t be back to 100 percent before the draft in June. It’s not a new scenario for teams and prospects, as previously injured players have been selected after the 10th round with their recovery being followed prior to the signing deadline, but the chances that scouts can get a good look at him before then are slim. It’s likely he’ll still hear his name called at some point during the draft, but expected that he’ll forgo signing and head to Missouri, where he'll be a highly touted prospect for the 2017 draft.

Previous Top 10 Stories of 2014
#10 - St. Louis Metro Underclass: Instant Analysis

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