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27_V1_WAT_Nov30 For those who watched Grade 12 SJAM student Kate Moran play basketball up close, there's little doubt that she had the potential to become the best female play- er our region has ever produced. University of Waterloo women's bench b o s s C r a i g N i c k e l coached Moran in JUEL (Junior Elite League) as a member of the Tri-Coun- ty Thunder. A veteran coach who's scrutinized countless young players, Nickel assesses her as fol- lows: "Relative to her peers and age, I consider Kate to be the most talented player I've ever coached. Her potential to impact the game at both the defensive and offensive ends of the � oor was truly world class." Brandon Mina, coach of the Thunder's JUEL prep team -- a team Moran is currently involved with as an assistant - has been a major in� uence in her life. He � rst convinced her to give rep basketball a try (K-W Light- ning) and later Team Ontario. "Not only was Kate national team calibre, she could have played professionally. She had it all -- footwork, timing, natural skill. A truly complete player," said Mina. But lots of players have those attributes and never go beyond a certain level. So what set Kate Moran apart? According to those who know Moran best, the answer is simple -- her desire to learn. "Kate had incredible instincts for the game and picked up new concepts extremely quickly," said Nickel. Mina echoed that statement: "Kate is a life-long learner. Her mindset set her apart. She responded to feedback and used it to get better." "Kate has an incredible understanding of all aspects of the game," added SJAM senior gir ls ' basketbal l coach Andrea Richardson. Her father, Bill, said part of the key is her attention. "Kate has natural basket- ball IQ. She's like a sponge -- always watching, always listening, always learning. She'll have a very success- ful coaching career if she chooses that path," said Bill. Moran's mother, Kelley, echoed similar sentiments adding "work ethic, determination and resil- iency" to the list of her daughter's greatest strengths. After leading the SJAM juniors to a WCS- SAA championship in the fall of Grade 9, Moran was getting serious attention from Canada Basketball. She made the U-16 team as a 14 year-old and missed June exams in order to prepare for the FIBA Americas tour- nament in Mexico that summer. Normally the second player o� the bench, Moran played the � nal four minutes of the championship game and the entire overtime period. � e team's 72-71 victory over Brazil was the � rst of its kind for Canadian basket- ball. "Listening to the national anthem was quite a thrill," she recalls. After acting as co-cap- tain for a Team Ontario squad that also captured gold that summer, Moran played senior ball in Grade 10, leading the Highlanders to another league title. Her selection as a WCSSAA � rst- team all-star was a surprise to no one. What was a surprise was the seriousness of an inju- ry suffered in the spring of 2016 while playing for the Thunder. Moran fell awk- wardly and her kneecap appeared dislocated. Sur- gery to reattach a large piece of cartilage that had broken o� soon followed. After recouping, her Grade 11 year was spent at a prep school in Brantford where she played a few games "at maybe 70 per cent." After a series of setbacks and "a lot of swell- ing," it was discovered that the surgery had only been partially successful. Moran has a ridge in her knee that a national team doctor predicted would catch someday and result in an even more serious injury. Once Moran was told things such as "knee replacement" and "wheelchair" could be part of her future, she knew her playing career was over. Moran has made the best of her situation and is determined to remain connected to the game she loves. In addition to Mina's team, she was assistant coach on the SJAM team that advanced to OFSSA recently and plans to pursue coaching at the post-second- ary level. She views her circumstance with a healthy perspective and uncommon maturity. "I was raised in a way that has given me the ability to stay positive," she said. "My faith also plays a part in how I view my injury. Everything happens for a reason and hard times often make you stronger." Her father adds a parental perspective. "It's di� cult when you con- sider what Kate could have accomplished and the oppor- tunities she'll miss. But she had many amazing experiences and accom- plishments in a short playing career and it's important to celebrate those." "And at the end of the day, we're raising a daughter, not a basketball player." � is is the second part of a two-part column on Kate Moran. To see the � rst part, see the Nov. 23 edition of the Chronicle. ••• Brian Totzke is a freelance writer and is on Twitter: @kitwatguy Every day, two or three people in Ontario are diagnosed with HIV. HIV is still a thing. See 10 surprising facts about HIV at OAN.red/facts Th ursday, November 30, 2017 • WATERLOO CHRONICLE • 27Serving your community since 1856 BRIAN TOTZKE THE FIFTH QUARTER What could have been: � e story of Kate Moran Part II "...I consider Kate to be the most talented player I've ever coached. Her potential to impact the game at both the defensive and o� ensive ends of the � oor was truly world class." Craig Nickel Former coach of Kate Moran ADAM JACKSON PHOTO Eye on the ball Kristian Kumbera, a middle for the Bluevale Collegiate Institute Knights, reaches for a ball dur- ing the opening round of the boys' 'AAA' volleyball OFSAA tournament on Thursday.