Before You Dog Isaiah Cottrell…

Morgantown, West Virginia – In West Virginia’s first seven games of the season, redshirt freshman Isaiah Cottrell has struggled in his first year as a starter for the Mountaineers.

Cottrell, who is averaging 5.1 points, 2.9 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game while shooting 45.2% from the field and 20% from three point range, is now fully recovered from a devastating torn Achilles tendon in his left leg early last season.

A torn Achilles tendon is a tricky injury and recovery time varies from anywhere to 6 to 12 months, but Cottrell worked hard in the offseason to return for the start of this season.

According to Medical Science Direct, “most elite basketball players are able to return to play after an Achilles rupture, but they are expected to miss 10 months (one season) for rehabilitation and often resume their post-injury peak level at the 2nd season back (3 years after the injury).”

Many athletes never regain the speed, agility and explosiveness they had before suffering this injury.

On top of that, Cottrell has played very limited minutes for the Mountaineers in his short career and is still learning the college game.  In addition, he’s learning a brand new position as the starting center for the Mountaineers.  Throughout his basketball career, Cottrell has spent very little time on the post and in the paint, and now he’s being asked to become West Virginia’s post presence.  

All things considered, Cottrell is doing quite well for himself and his team.  Before throwing out comments like, “Isaiah Cottrell is soft like Charmin”, etc., understand that true rehabilitation and recovery from an injury like the one he had is a slow process, and that he will soon be a true weapon for the West Virginia Mountaineers.