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GOLD AND BLACK ILLUSTRATED VOLUME 25, ISSUE 5 67 Unexpected Injury Cooper working to get healthy WOMEN'S BASKE TBALL RECRUITING BY KYLE CHARTERS KCharters@GoldandBlack.com W hen Lamina Cooper went to check the MRI results on her left knee in late February, three days after an injury, she was confident she'd receive good news. She wasn't the only one; her doctors felt the same, that the guard had pos- sibility suffered a deep bone bruise, but probably not an ACL injury. Their confidence led to hers. "I was like happy, was there with my friend and we were laughing," she said of her Feb. 24 trip to the see the results. "Then, the doctor came in and was like 'Unfortunately …' "And I was like 'Wow.' " As it turns out, Cooper had suffered a partial tear of her left ACL during Lawrence North's regional win over Pike, ending her season and — for all intents and purposes — ending the Wildcats' bid for a Class 4A state championship. They lost the following weekend in the semi state. Had the Purdue freshman-to-be been only a recreational athlete, doc- tors told her, she might not need the surgery, but for a Division I play- er, it was a must. Cooper had the operation March 25, leaving her with a recovery time of 4-to-6 months. "That's my timeline," she said in late April, a month into rehab. "I'll be able to work out and prac- tice a little bit (this summer), but won't try to play until the be- ginning of the season. But I do plan on playing next year." That's Purdue's hope, as well. Although Cooper, who will arrive at Purdue in mid-June, will miss the Boilermakers' European trip in August — she will go, but won't participate — the 5-foot-9 guard should be ready to partic- ipate at the start of practices in early October. Purdue's presea- son exhibition is Nov. 8. The Boilermakers could use her. Cooper, who gives Purdue depth in the backcourt and potential- ly on the wing, is a versatile scorer who can be most effective when cre- ating her own shot off the dribble — a characteristic the Boilermakers lack — with a developing outside game. And she's an excellent defender. Last season, she averaged 15 points for game for a loaded LN squad, which had lost only one game (in 28 chanc- es) before falling to Columbus North without her in the semi state. She was named to the Associated Press All-State second team. "Lamina is a beast," Lawrence INCOMING BOILERMAKERS 2016 Commitments Name Pos. Ht. Hometown/High School Aerianna Harris F 6-1 Indianapolis/Lawrence North Miracle Gray PG 5-6 Stone Mountain, Ga./Stephenson Dominique Oden G 5-8 Lithonia, Ga./Marist 2017 Commitment Dani Lawson F 6-2 Shaker Heights, Ohio/ Hathaway Brown Varsity Views When Lamina Cooper injured her knee in late February, she didn't expect the worst. But that's the news she got. Now, she's working to get back as soon as possible.