Patient Profiles

Juwan Morgan underwent arthroscopic reconstructive surgery for an unstable shoulder by Dr. Ahlfeld while playing basketball at Indiana University.  He had a complete recovery and after the surgery completed an extremely successful career becoming one of the all-time leading scorers in Indiana history.  He also finished in the top ten in rebounds, blocked shots, and field goal percentage. 

Juwan also became only the second player in Indiana history to record a triple double in a game.  He signed with the Utah Jazz after college graduation and has enjoyed a very successful rookie season in 2020.  

Calbert Cheaney sustained a Jones type of fracture in his 5th metatarsal bone in his left foot before starting his career at Indiana University in basketball.  He was treated by Dr. Ahlfeld with a surgical placement of a screw in the 5th metatarsal bone.  He made an extremely good recovery. 

During his career at Indiana, he missed no games or practices due to his injury.  He became an All-American at Indiana University and the all-time Big Ten leading scorer.  He was a 1st round draft choice in the NBA draft after his senior year at IU.  He was named the collegiate player of the year on a national consensus basis.  Calbert had a very successful NBA career including playing for the Golden State Warriors and Washington. 

In his more than 30 years as the men's basketball team physician at Indiana University, Dr. Steve Ahlfeld has helped many players beat their sport-related injury and return to playing safely. One such player at Indiana University was Brian Evans, a first round NBA pick and Big Ten Player of the Year. Brian Evans comments in a recent interview:

"I suffered an early-season shoulder dislocation in 1993, " recalls Brian Evans who has now retired from NBA basketball. Brian adds, "With Dr. Ahlfeld's help, I was able to complete the Indiana University basketball season while wearing a shoulder harness brace."

After finishing the IU season, Evans went in for surgery in April 1994. After three months of rehabiliation, he as back to playing pick-up games and feeling great. Following his shoulder surgery, Brian was selected as the Big Ten MVP and was a first round draft choice in the NBA. 

"I only have wonderful things to say about Dr. Ahlfeld and his entire staff," says Evans.

-Brian Evans, former NBA player with the Orlando Magic, New Jersey Nets and Minnesota Timerwolves.

 North Central's Briana Bass Returns to Basketball Following
Surgey from Her Severe Knee Injury

Written by Kristen Leigh Porter, Copyright 2006 The Indianapolis Star
Photos provided courtesy of Bob Strempka at Strempkagallery.com

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA

Briana Bass would have loved to spend this semistate Saturday like she did last season, helping her North Central basketball team earn a state finals berth. After what she's gone through the past few months, the sophomore is just thankful to be able to play the game again.

As the starting point guard on last year's Class 4A title team, Briana suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury to her right knee nine games into this season.

It surprised almost everyone outside the North Central program, when she entered Feb. 10's sectional semifinal loss to Carmel in the fourth quarter wearing a heavy-duty yet lightweight brace. Bass quickly stole the ball and sped down the court for a lay-up, looking like her old self.

"I was happy to be back out on the floor," said Bass, who all the while had been supporting her teammates at games and practices.

Said Coach Alan Vickrey: "She was so quick, it was amazing. In comparison to how she played and where she had been the previous Friday in practice, (it) was just unbelievable."

Dr. Steven Ahlfeld of Ahlfeld Sports Medicine Orthopaedic Center in Indianapolis, who handled her treatment, watched from the stands. From Day One, Ahlfeld said he could tell by the look in Bass' eyes that she had set her mind on getting back before season's end.

"Briana did something that very few people would be able to do in coming back to play on the basketball court at a high level in just six weeks," Dr. Alhfeld said.

Ahlfeld said that 20 years ago, recovery from knee surgery took a year to 18 months. But now it has evolved to the point in which a time frame such as Bass' is improbable, but not impossible. ACL reconstruction surgery can be done arthroscopically, and a piece of tendon from the front of the kneecap is used to rebuild the torn ligament, leaving a small scar from the 2-inch incision.

Soon after surgery, Bass began riding a bike and doing balancing drills, then moved on to working with weights and agility drills geared to getting her back on the court. The first few weeks, she grit her teeth through the pain.

"There were a lot of tears," said her father, Tim Bass. "We used to say 'No pain, no gain.' A lot of different things she took for granted at one time, she doesn't take for granted anymore."

To get the green light to return, Bass had to regain the range of motion along with strength and stability in her knee, and be of value to the team.

"Her desire was to do anything she could to help her team on the way to their goal in the sectional tournament," Ahlfeld said. "I don't think there's anyone who had more self-determination, courage, dedication than Briana had. She obviously has a great work ethic on and off the court, so it's nothing new to her to really go after something."

Part of the deal was that if she came back for the tournament, she wouldn't play AAU ball this season.

Instead, Bass participates in a weight-training class at school and rehabs at Ahlfeld's office with therapist Brett Grimes two or three times a week. She also does her own weight workouts and individual basketball drills on the weekends.

One thing Bass won't have to worry about is the injury affecting her college future. She verbally committed to powerhouse Tennessee in the fall.

Not even her teammates knew about the secret, because the Bass family didn't want to take attention away from star senior Amber Harris, a Purdue recruit. Even though Bass' camp also received letters from Duke and Louisiana State, none of the Indiana schools showed much interest until it looked like Bass could be a Volunteer.

Neither legendary Tennessee coach Pat Summitt nor Bass are concerned about her height (5 feet 2 inches) affecting her ability to play major college ball.

"When I go out there and play, I might look short, but I don't feel short," Bass said. "I feel like I'm just as tall as everyone else. When people told me I was too small to play, it was a motivation to try harder."

Even though she always has been among the shortest players on the court, Bass has shown great potential since her days in the girl’s basketball league as a third-grader playing against fourth-graders. Her family credits Coach Vickrey for pushing her and believing in her long before she burst onto the high school scene as a freshman.

With two more years remaining in her high school career, Bass is motivated to help her team rack up more postseason wins.

Future opponents should take note: Bass has shown what she can do when she puts her mind to it.