Eagles' PG Grounded For Playoffs

Edison senior Clyde Hill will miss at least the first two rounds of the playoffs after elbow surgery.

Thursday, July 28th 2011, 5:34 pm

By: News On 6

Originally Published: Feb 25, 2010 8:54 PM CDT

Bobby Lewis
Oklahoma Sports Mobile Journalist

TULSA, Oklahoma – A routine layup may have shattered a senior’s shot at a state championship. Edison point guard Clyde Hill elevated for a layup at practice last week and immediately knew something was wrong. His left elbow didn’t feel right.

“It felt kind of weird,” said Hill. “It popped out of place and I had to tell my coach that it wasn’t right. I had to get rushed to the hospital and get an MRI.”

Hill’s elbow on his shooting arm had loose bone fragments floating around under his skin. Doctors evaluated his arm and decided the 5-foot-9 team leader needed surgery.

“It was a little frustrating for us and for him,” said Edison head coach Michael Parish. “This being his senior year and him putting in as much hard work as he has, you hate to see a kid go through that.”

Six days before the first playoff game of his senior season, Hill had two pieces of bone removed from his elbow. He walked around school in a soft cast and sling, wondering when, or if, he’d ever see the court again in an Edison uniform.

Hill is a leader on the floor. He averages just under 10 points per game and 8 assists per game. Parish says he is ‘a coach on the floor’, and having him out of the lineup really hurts the Eagles’ title chances.

“He’s one of those guys that makes his teammates better,” said Parish. “He sets up his teammates. He’s fast, quick and great ball handler, good free throw shooter. He’s somebody that we like to have on the floor all the time, especially at the end of games.”

Hill will do physical therapy exercises four days a week for three weeks and will check back with doctors to see about his progress. If he has healed enough, his high school career may not be over. Hill could return for the first week of the state championship round.

“I think I’ll be back as soon as possible,” smiled Hill. “I think my team will do good without me.”

“If anybody’s got a chance to be back, I think Clyde will,” said Parish.