Jan. 10, 2026
By Nikalena Iacono
Managing Editor
Going up for a rebound and landing awkwardly was all it took to change senior center Brooke Harper’s high school basketball career, transforming her role from a key contributor on the court to watching from the sidelines.
On April 20, 2024, during an Amateur Athletic Union game for Team Northeast, Harper tore her ACL and meniscus, resulting in three surgeries, a missed basketball season and 16 months of recovery. She said her injury was devastating, especially because she was unsure of what would happen next.
“Physically, it challenged me because it restricted me from doing certain things,” Harper said. “Mentally, it was a roller coaster because some days would be good and some days it felt like nothing was improving.”
Harper, who began playing basketball when she was six years old, said that although she could not play last season, she continued to attend practices and support her teammates at every game as she recovered.
“On the court and off the court, her teammates look up to her, and she is a great role model for the younger girls.”
“Sitting on the side watching and missing… the sport that I love was the hardest part of not being able to play,” Harper said.
However, the injury did not stop her. Now fully recovered, Harper has returned as a captain, hoping to lead the team to its first league championship.
“It’s a very important and bittersweet season. It’s my comeback season, and [I want to prove] that this injury didn’t hold me back one bit. It just pushed me to work harder,” Harper said.
She said her goals are to take the season game by game, dominate and be there for her team.
“[My injury] made me see the sport I love in a new light and appreciate just how much it has impacted my life,” Harper said. “I learned a life lesson to never take anything for granted because it could be taken away from me at any time.”
Coach Kesack, who has been the head coach for two years, said he is glad Harper is able to play this season.
“On the court and off the court, her teammates look up to her, and she is a great role model for the younger girls,” Kesack said. “Not having Brooke on the court last year was a void that we could not fill because of the leader she is.”
In addition to being a leader, Kesack said Harper’s skills set her apart from other players on the team.
“She is one of the top scorers in our league [and] one of the top players on our team,” Kesack said.
Although Harper has returned to the court, Kesack said he is taking precautions by easing her into competition so she will be at her best for the end of the season, when the high-stakes playoff games occur.
“The best part about seeing her back on the court is seeing her happy doing something that she loves. She had this game taken away from her… and now she is making the most of this opportunity to play basketball,” Kesack said.
Senior guard Mylah Campbell, who has played basketball with Harper since eighth grade, said she was impressed by Harper’s positive attitude during her recovery.
“Her comeback shows how much she wanted to get back on the court,” Campbell said. “It shows how determined she really is for the [sport] she loves.”
Campbell said Harper contributes to the team by being a strong center, defending the basket, protecting the ball and scoring points.
“Brooke is a very strong player and always has the motivation to keep going, no matter what the score is, how she is feeling or how she is playing,” Campbell said.
She said she expects Harper to thrive during her final season.
“Brooke is the type of person to make sure everyone around her always has someone to lean on and always gives people great advice and help in any situation,” Campbell said. “Having Brooke back on the court with us is like bringing back the missing piece of a puzzle.”
