Camden's Greer to attack his rehab like a fastbreak
Shortly after Camden point guard Corey Greer was told that he had torn the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, ending his junior season, he didn't have the typical reaction.
Shortly after Camden point guard Corey Greer was told that he had torn the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, ending his junior season, he didn't have the typical reaction.
"He said, 'What time is practice?' " his father, LaMarr Greer, said.
When the father told him that practice was at 4 p.m., the son asked him to get the car warmed up.
"We have got to get to work," Corey Greer said.
That tells a little about the younger Greer, who is so determined, not to mention extremely talented, that he isn't going to let this injury set him back.
His father, one of the top players in South Jersey history, was more of a wreck.
"I am heartbroken," LaMarr Greer said.
The elder Greer knows the drill. His older son, Trai, now a redshirt freshman at Holy Family College, tore his right ACL during his senior year at Middle Township.
"When Trai did it, I was devastated," said LaMarr Greer, who helped lead Middle Township to consecutive state championships in 1993 and 1994. "Trai was playing so well at the time, and now we have another one."
Corey Greer was a starter as a freshman at Middle Township. He transferred to Camden and averaged nearly 12 points and five assists as the Panthers won the South Jersey Group 2 title, advanced to the state final, and lost an 85-83 decision to West Side of Newark in the championship game.
Camden, which is ranked No. 2 in South Jersey by the Inquirer, has all the components to return to the grand stage. The 6-foot-1 Greer has been the team's conductor, as willing to dish as he is to score.
"I just care about winning," he said.
It shows.
So now he sits on the bench and offers his advice to his teammates, all the while dreaming when he can return to the court.
September is the target date, and as grueling as it will be, Greer is eager to attack his rehabilitation.
"I can't wait to get started," he said. "Once I start rehab, I think everything will pick up because I want to get back to where I was - and even better."
He will receive encouragement from the successful rehab of his brother. After redshirting last year, Trai Greer was averaging 34.9 minutes per game in his first 13 contests for Holy Family this season.
"My brother was mature about it, and I have to be the same way," Greer said. "He just worked through it, and I have to come back 100 percent the same way he did."
What's interesting is that LaMarr Greer, 40, played at Florida State and then professionally in Europe for 13 years and never suffered an injury like either of his sons'.
"In Greece one year I slightly tore my Achilles, but my whole career I never had an ACL" injury, LaMarr said.
After Corey's injury, LaMarr said, "It is like, 'Oh my goodness.' "
That summed up pretty much how everybody connected with the Camden program felt.
"It's so devastating, especially since you can't ask for a better young man to coach," Camden coach John Valore said.
Valore knows that Corey Greer will enthusiastically attack his rehab.
"He is tough as nails, and he has great family support," Valore said.
What has helped Corey is that a number of colleges called right after the injury, told him they were still interested, and invited him to visit any time.
"It's great that they are still calling," he said.
He is determined to have the phones ringing next fall and winter, when Greer vows to be better than ever. Considering his past performances, that would be some sight.
@sjnard