It’s a good thing for Sarah Kaminski that humans only have two knees.

The junior point guard blew out the ACL in her right knee in eighth grade. She did the same to her left knee while playing AAU basketball last May.

After missing the first three games this season while completing rehab, Kaminski is back at full strength. Through Sunday she led the Redhawks in scoring at 13.2 points per game and was second in rebounds and assists.

With her, Minnehaha Academy is 18-3 and a good bet to return to the Class 2A state tournament for the seventh time in the past eight years.

“She’s the best all-around, do-everything player I’ve had the pleasure to coach,” coach Josh Thurow said.

Staff writer Jim Paulsen talked to Kaminski about her passion for basketball.

 

Q It must have been pretty depressing to injure your other knee last spring.

A It was. I felt like I was letting my AAU team down. I’ve played with a lot of them for five, six years and not being able to play was a big bummer.

 

Q How long was your first rehab?

A That one took me eight months to come back from. The surgeons did a really great job. This latest one was even better. It only took me seven months to come back.

 

Q Rehab can be painful. Were you dreading doing it again after having already been through it?

A It’s funny, but I really don’t remember much about my first rehab. Maybe I have a mental block or something.

 

Q How are the knees now?

A Weird as it sounds, my right knee is better than it was before. I’m still icing my left knee after games, trying to prevent swelling. But I’m getting my confidence back and I’m starting to lose the fear of hurting it again.

 

Q Describe your game.

A I’m not the fastest wolf in the pack, but I think I’m one of the strongest. My three things are that I rebound, I pass and I shoot.

 

Q You recently scored your 1,000th career point. That has to be a satisfying accomplishment.

A It is, but I’ll be more happy if I get to 1,000 assists. As a point guard, that would be the biggest honor.

 

Q Sounds like a true point guard mentality.

A There is something about passing and making other people happy, letting them shine, that makes me feel good.

 

Q Is another state tournament berth likely?

A I think so. Coming into last year, we had lost a lot of players to graduation. It was kind of a trial year for us. This year, we have a better grasp on things. Everyone’s more experienced and everyone’s gotten better.

 

Q What is the essence of basketball for you?

A Before a game they announce the starters. My number is the biggest, so I’m announced last, and you run out on the court with your teammates and shake the other coach’s hand, and then come back to the bench with everyone clapping. That’s probably my favorite.

 

Q What is one must-do before every game?

A Panera is my guilty pleasure. I get the barbecue chicken salad. They took it off the menu for a while and I was devastated, but they’ve brought it back.

 

Q What do you do outside of basketball?

A I’m a big reader. I love children’s books. My favorite is [Shel Silverstein’s] “The Giving Tree.” I love the message about giving and giving until you can’t give anymore. It’s applicable to everyone, not just children.

JIM PAULSEN