Jackie Christ, a 6’2” senior center who is verbally committed to Appalachian State University, will be out for the 2018-2019 season after she tore her ACL in her last AAU summer basketball game.

Christ’s injury will not impact her recruiting process with Appalachian State. Christ said, “ACL injuries are common,” and mentions that she has talked to her coaches, and it seems like everything is pretty good. “They were really supportive,” said Christ when she broke the news to her college coaches that she had torn her ACL.

Christ is well liked amongst the Titan community and basketball program. Junior Maddie Beal, one of Christ’s teammates, expressed, “It’s really sad, this was going to be our last season playing together, and it stinks not being able to have her on the court for her senior year.” Sophomore Xavia Hahn said, “She [Christ] was one of our captains and mentors, she always took the new players under her wing.”

Certainly the team will have to do some serious reconstruction to both their offense and defense with the absence of Christ. Last season, Christ averaged 19.8 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 2.9 blocks per game, according to The Washington Post. Beal added that, “We’re already starting to change the offense and team dynamic to a more perimeter play.”

The Titans will have a huge spot to fill in the posts. Christ will still play a role in the program as the team’s manager. Her teammates are excited to have her in the program, and Hahn says that without her, “our team is not whole.”

Head coach Joseph Smith did not respond to repeated interview requests.