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Moats takes leave at James Madison
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Forward Nicci Moats, who missed most of her freshman season for the Tennessee Lady Vols because of personal issues before transferring to James Madison, has taken a leave from her new team for the same reason.
Moats, who missed her entire first season at James Madison with knee and back injuries, has left school to “deal with some personal issues,” coach Kenny Brooks told The Daily News Recod.
The 6-foot-2 forward isn’t transferring. But Brooks said he did not know whether Moats would return to play in 2009-10.
“Right now, she just needs to deal with the issues,” Books told the newspaper. “She needs to step away from basketball.”
Injuries cut Moats’ career short at Tennessee, as well. She played only nine games for the Lady Vols as a freshman in 2006-07 before taking a medical leave because of a streak of illnesses: tonsillitis, strep throat and the flu. The Daleville, Va., native said she transferred to James Madison for a fresh start closer to home.
Moats did not have to sit out a season at James Madison, because the NCAA granted her a medical waiver. But she was still recovering from a knee injury when she arrived at James Madison last summer, while also dealing with a muscle problem and pinched nerve in her back.
“It’s just unfortunate,” Brooks said of Moats. “She dealt with injuries a lot, so she never was really the player that she probably could have been before injuries.
“I don’t look at is so much so as a lost opportunity because of a Tennessee transfer. I look at it as a lost opportunity for her to be able to reach her dreams of playing college basketball.”
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Posted by drakosben1 on May 4, 2008 at 10:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This is not a tragic story. The women being treated not like women in Afganistan before we got there is a tragedy. The people who were killed by the evil dictator in Iraq are tragedies. We are the priviledged few here in the United States. We'd better quit feeling sorry for ourselves just because somebody didn't get to play basketball. Look at all of the other people who need encouragement and help in daily life from others. Get a life writers!
Posted by AllLadyVol on May 4, 2008 at 11:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
No one in this story referred to Moats' situation as a tragedy. We don't know all the details of why Moats has taken leave from basketball. (The Chris Lofton story should remind us all that we don't know everything even though we read a story online or in the paper) I do think it's unfortunate that she has not reached her potential as a player because of off-the-court issues.
It may be that she just was not physically and emotionally ready to handle the rigors of a college basketball program. At any rate, I hope Moats is able to overcome her obstacles to be successful.
Posted by llbrown1 on May 6, 2008 at 11:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I searched high and low in the article for the words tragic or tragedy and could find them only in your comment drakosben1. I'm wondering why you would make such a comment. The article does use the word unfortunate and very appropriately. Even if she only plays one game, once a Lady Vol, always a Lady Vol and fans like to hear the news.
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