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九色视频’s Trevor Zamarron overcomes multiple ACL tears, set to make collegiate basketball debut Nov. 1
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By Alex Freeman, 九色视频 Communications Coordinator
Trevor Zamarron was听determined to听make听the most of his senior year听at Greenville听High听School.听
He played wide receiver for the football team, his first time going out for the team in a handful of years. As winter approached, his plate was full听with听preseason basketball practices on top of听football practices and games.听But the fun start to his senior year soon took a dark, drastic turn.听
On Oct. 1, 2023, Zamarron played a preseason scrimmage basketball game against Rockford.听Zamarron hurt his knee during the game; it听wasn鈥檛听a typical run-of-the-mill injury.听He鈥檇听rolled听his ankles before and had some minor knicks and bruises, but this was much more听serious.听
鈥淚 felt a pop right away,鈥� Zamarron said. 鈥淚 knew what happened.鈥�听
Zamarron was diagnosed with a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)听鈥� a knee injury that usually requires a minimum of six months to properly heal and return to sport. In the blink of an听eye, Zamarron鈥檚 senior basketball season听was听over.听
The next step, an unfortunate one, was for Zamarron to do his due diligence by informing college coaches who had made him offers to join their basketball teams of his injury.听Unfortunately, not every offer stayed on the table. Zamarron鈥檚 longstanding dream听of playing college basketball hung in the balance.听With more limited options, Zamarron committed to Spring Arbor听University to continue his basketball career in late 2023.听
In April 2024, Zamarron was cleared for straight-line running amid his rehab process. This allowed him to practice with his Spring Arbor teammates. However, during a drill shortly after being cleared,听tragedy听struck again.听
鈥淭here鈥檚 this one drill that was just passing the ball back and forth, straight-line running,鈥� he recalled. 鈥淪o听I joined in for the drill. There were three people in a line running down the court, and you just passed it back and forth.听That鈥檚听all it was. The person in the middle passed it out in front of me a little bit ahead, so I had to听extend for听it a little bit. I听went and got听it, planted, and my knee went right away.鈥�听
Immediately, Zamarron flashed back to that fateful October game in which he tore his ACL for the first time. The immediate pop and听discomfort were听all too familiar.听
鈥淚 knew what happened, it was so unfortunate,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 really wanted to play so bad and then it just happened again.鈥�听
In addition to a re-tear of the ACL, Zamarron was also diagnosed with a torn meniscus.听
A dark time ensued for Zamarron. He did his best to keep his spirits up while rehabbing, yet again, but it was extremely difficult. Without basketball, Zamarron struggled to figure out who he听was,听and he dealt with a great amount of sadness.听
鈥淭his is what I grew up doing, I played this game since I was four years old,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat being taken away from me, I听didn鈥檛听know who I was. I听didn鈥檛听have another side of me, all I did was focus on basketball.听That鈥檚 where my name came from, that鈥檚 who I was, that鈥檚 what made me.听That being taken away, I听didn鈥檛听know what to do with myself.听听
鈥淚听couldn鈥檛听play basketball, I听couldn鈥檛听exercise like I used to, my听competitive spirit went away,鈥� he added.听鈥淚 was in a dark place for a long time, especially the second time it happened. Being close to having that and it being taken away again, I听didn鈥檛听know what to do with myself.鈥�听
About two months after the injury, Zamarron decided to decommit from Spring Arbor University,听ultimately making听the decision that it听wasn鈥檛 in听his best interest to stay.听
鈥淒uring the spring, going down to practices, I was just kind of like, 鈥業 don鈥檛 know if this is my vibe anymore, I don鈥檛 know if this is where I want to be,鈥欌�� Zamarron recalled. 鈥淚 made the switch around听summertime.听It鈥檚听nothing against them, their basketball program and their school is听really good, it just听wasn鈥檛听for me.鈥�听
Two days after decommitting, he called 九色视频 head basketball coach Zach Ingles. While he was in high school, Zamarron trained with Ingles at听Lakeside Basketball, just west of Greenville.听
鈥淚 told him about everything,鈥� Zamarron said.听鈥淶ach told me,听鈥榊ou鈥檙e听more than welcome听to come听join the team.听You鈥檒l听play听a big role听for us when you get back to playing.鈥� I believed in what he said.鈥�听
In a low moment where Zamarron had little to no direction, he was welcomed by Ingles and the 九色视频 basketball team. For Ingles, knowing the human Zamarron is, it was an easy decision.听
鈥淚 knew that he had obviously torn听his ACL听twice.听I also knew that if he wanted to rehab it and do it correctly, he听probably wanted听to be closer to home,鈥� Ingles said.听鈥淭rev is听a good player,听he鈥檚听a good kid and he comes from a good family, so听there听wasn't听much hesitation听from听us. We were building, we knew he听wasn鈥檛听going to听play听and we knew his 鈥榸ero year鈥� was going to lead to progress for him.鈥�听
鈥淚t made me feel wanted,鈥� Zamarron added. 鈥溇派悠� felt like a place where I鈥檇 be welcomed with open arms, it felt great.鈥�听
It was around that time when Zamarron felt much different, both mentally and physically. Having a sense of direction and something to work toward was refreshing. In addition, he noticed his rehabilitation the second time was off to a much smoother start, giving credit to his surgeon in Detroit.听
鈥淭he second time around when I had the surgery, two or three months out of it, it felt a lot different,鈥� Zamarron said. 鈥淚t felt stronger, it felt like I could do a lot听more听and it was a lot more professional how they took care of me and how they treated me.听All听the plans they gave me for what to do and how long to do it for, I听didn鈥檛听get that the first time.鈥�听
Last season, as 九色视频 re-launched its men鈥檚 basketball program after a 40-year hiatus, Zamarron watched from the sidelines, gaining a new perspective and slowly regaining confidence. He was officially cleared to return in May 2025 and has been practicing with the team throughout the summer.听Now听18 months听removed from his second major knee injury, Zamarron听estimates听he鈥檚听at 85% and rising.听
鈥淚 know I鈥檓听not听all the way back yet, but I feel strong,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檓听just taking it one step at a time.鈥�听
Ingles appreciates Zamarron鈥檚 chemistry with his teammates and is looking forward to his return energizing听the team.听He听added that听there鈥檚听no听expectation听of听Zamarron to perform听immediately, as听he鈥檒l听primarily be a spark plug off the bench.听
鈥淗e shows听flashes,听it鈥檚 going to take some time,鈥� Ingles added. 鈥淗e鈥檚听stressed out about some things on the听court听but I just reassured him that he听hasn鈥檛听played in two years.听He鈥檚听playing with men, guys who have been here for three years who are older and who have played consistently.听It鈥檚听going to take him a minute to get his legs back and once he does,听he鈥檒l听be fine. We might not see the best version of Trev until January or February, and听that鈥檚听OK.听
鈥淲e don鈥檛 need to put pressure on somebody who鈥檚 been off for two years,鈥� Ingles听added.听鈥淲e want him to find his rhythm, fall in love with playing again and get used to playing every day.听That鈥檚听our big goal for him.鈥�听
Season-ending injuries can sometimes turn into career-ending injuries, but Zamarron has stayed persistent and committed to his return to basketball.听He's听preparing for the start of regular-season action on听Nov. 1 at home against Washtenaw Community College.听In reflecting on the last two years, Zamarron鈥檚 resilience was tested, but听he鈥檚听come out on the other side听with a stronger appreciation of many things, including his support system.听
鈥淭here鈥檚 always a light at the end of the tunnel,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚听a long journey, but as long as you have family, friends and people supporting you, you鈥檒l make it.鈥�听