[ot-caption title=”In honor of Brandon Knight’s success on the courts in high school, Knight’s Gatorade banners hang in Stacy Gym. (via Ben Pierce, sophomore)”]

PC graduate from the Class of 2010, NBA star Brandon Knight returned after missing twenty-one games to score 30 points for the Phoenix Suns in last Saturday’s tussle with the Warriors, the NBA’s reigning champs. Brandon had been sidelined with a groin injury that he suffered during the Suns’ January 19^th matchup versus the Indiana Pacers. In his first start back from injury, Knight showed his determination not just to return as quickly as possible to help the struggling Suns (18-49) but also to have a large impact immediately. Phoenix lost fourteen of the nineteen games they played without Knight, speaking volumes to the impact that the PC alum has on the team. Knight was averaging 21.3 points per game in January before his groin injury sidelined him.

To understand the importance of Knight’s comeback, take a look at his history. After dominating at the Pine for five years, Knight graduated as a highly touted recruit and chose to join John Calipari’s Wildcats at Kentucky to continue playing basketball at the collegiate level. The Wildcats went 29-8 in Knight’s only season in Lexington, going 10-6 in SEC play. He also played a pivotal role in helping Big Blue Nation get to the final four in the 2011 season, hitting humongous shots both in the First Round against Princeton and in their Sweet Sixteen clash against Ohio State. Knight would declare for the NBA Draft after his freshman season and was taken with the 8^th overall draft pick in 2011 by the Detroit Pistons. However, after two seasons with them, he was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks, and just last year, he was moved to Phoenix.  He’s really made noise wherever he’s played though, which is the main reason why his return is so significant.

Pre-injury, there was never any doubt that Brandon could play offense. However, Knight has sometimes been criticized for his lack of ability and in certain cases, his laziness on the defensive end of the court. However, in one of his first games back versus the Denver Nuggets, Knight played 25 minutes off the bench and finished with 10 points and five assists, but the most noticeable change in his game was the urgency with which he hustled back to the defensive end.  The former Panther stayed active, constantly moving around the court with an energy that he had not exhibited to that point in his brief tenure with the Suns.  Knight’s injury seemingly has sparked an intensity in the valued player that will hopefully resonate through the rest of the season and beyond, as the young 24-year-old continues to build a great NBA career for himself.

As Knight continues to play at a high level, we can only expect that he’ll take his game even higher.  Brandon has the Suns only triple double this season, four games in which he topped thirty points, and another four where he dished out ten assists or more.  And the injury seemed to rejuvenate him.  Knight is a car that just had his tire replaced, in the shop for a bit but now ready to get back on the track, or in Knight’s case, the court.

We’ll continue to track Brandon’s progress as the season continues.  Knight comes back to Pine Crest on June 18^th-19^th for his annual “Brandon Knight Annual Skills Clinic.”

Stats from NBA.com.