Briana Bass was interested in physical therapy before suffering a torn anterior cruciate knee ligament in both knees during her high school career.

A career option now feels more like a calling.

"I feel like I've learned a lot going to my therapist,'' said the Tennessee women's basketball freshman, who is from Indianapolis. "I'm looking forward to actually getting involved in stuff like that."

Bass said the second injury, suffered in February, was made tougher by the timing.

"I felt like it was unfair because it was my senior year and it was the championship of the sectional and I went down within the first couple minutes of the game,'' the 5-foot-2 point guard said. "I was wondering: Why me. Why me."

Two ACL recoveries have doubled Bass' toughness. She's also stored some empathy for when she's on the other side of the healing process.

"Having gone through the experience twice, I think I will be able to relate to some of the people I actually have to help,'' Bass said. "I can feel what they're feeling because I've been through what they're going through. Emotionally, I can touch them because I've been through what they're going through."

Do you hear a lot of short jokes and comments?

"Yes, I still hear it. I get it from my teammates all the time."

What do they say to you?

"Sometimes they say I'm shorter than (5-2 former Lady Vol Shannon) Bobbitt. Or they'll make fun of my voice. Like they'll mimic me and say everything I say and try to do this high-pitched voice. I do get a lot of short jokes, but I can't think of any right now."

Are any of them actually funny?

"No"

But you're laughing when you say that?

"(Still laughing) I don't think they're funny. Sometimes they are funny. But because they're making fun of me, it's not funny."

What are the advantages of being your size?

"You get to fit into small spaces of course and then when you go out and buy shoes and stuff like that they're cheaper than everybody else's because I'm still in the kids' section."

How would you describe yourself?

"I am goofy. I like to laugh a lot. But I also can be kind of quiet and shy."

You strike me as having a sunny disposition, where does that come from?

"I don't know. I like to smile."

With your quickness, do you have any stories about breaking someone's ankles with a move?

"One time in high school I was coming down on the fast break on the left-hand side. And I dribbled between my legs a couple of times and I crossed the girl over and left her and the whole crowd was like 'woooooo ... .' "

Did she fall down?

"She buckled"

Bass went to North Central High School with Eric Gordon, the Indiana All-American who was a first-round draft choice of the NBA's Los Angeles Clippers in June.

"We've known each other since middle school,'' Bass said. "The Jewish community center is where we used to work out."

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.