As a freshman at Baylor University in 2008, Cherrish Wallace had high hopes for her basketball career. Those hopes and dreams were put on hold after just 11 games when she suffered a stress fracture in her leg.
The devastating injury required a titanium rod in her right tibia, causing her pain and discomfort through the rehabilitation process.
Wallace never gave up on her dream, but does admit there were times when the outlook was bleak.
“It was never out of sight in my mind, but I did not know if I could play college ball again,” Wallace said. “I always wanted to but had questions in my head about if I would get to play.”
Wallace graduated from Baylor in 2012 with a degree in general studies and education.
Now, five years after the injury, Wallace is back on the hardwood thanks to a familiar face that she knew from her time at Baylor. University of Maine head coach Richard Barron was formerly an assistant coach at Baylor where he helped recruit Wallace originally. When Wallace knew she wanted to play again, she knew who she could reach out to.
“A little bit of loyalty lies in that,” Wallace said. “He recruited me at Baylor and when I knew I wanted to play again I gave him a call. Even though it wasn’t easy, he made it possible. A lot of credit goes to Coach Barron getting me here.”
Even when Wallace was physically able to play again, there were still hurdles to get back on the court. It took until Jan. 1, nearly halfway through the Black Bears’ season, to get a waiver from the NCAA.
Now that she is back on the court, UMaine’s new point guard has made an instant impact. She has started five of the six games she has played in and averaged 10.8 points and six assists per game.
Despite her success in basketball, her biggest adjustment has come off of the court. Born and raised in Pasadena, Calif., Wallace could not be much farther from home than Orono, Maine but says she has found comfort in her teammates.
“It’s been great but it’s a different kind of experience,” she said. “I’m a California kid, so the weather is very different. My teammates have really done a great job taking me in and making me a part of their family.”
From California to Texas and now to Maine, basketball has given Wallace the opportunity to see parts of the country and world she had not even imagined. The adjustments have not always been easy, but they have been part of her life for quite a few years.
“The crazy thing is I have been everywhere because of a little old basketball — I have been all around the world. The big thing this time is the weather, but after moving around so much I have really learned to adjust fast to everything.”
With all of that moving and the pressure put on Wallace to perform on the court, she finds comfort in quiet time.
“Prayer is all I really depend on these days and it takes me away from all of my problems. That alone time praying is what gets me through. My family and friends are also a huge part of that.”
With the Black Bears in the midst of a single-season turnaround in which they have already doubled their win total from last year with 10 games still left to play, Wallace has added some experience and intensity to an already solid team.
“For myself, as a player I want to help set those team goals and win. I want to get somewhere that they haven’t been in a while, whether that is a big tournament or even winning the conference.”
This season will be Wallace’s last year of eligibility, but her basketball goals do not end with the season.
“If I don’t go pro here or overseas I want to go back home or to California doing what I love, which is working with kids. I am really not happy unless I am making a difference.”
Wallace’s time at UMaine has given new life to her dream of playing basketball. With the homestretch of her season — and possibly her basketball career — looming, she will be sure to make the best of it.