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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Devin Kirby overcomes life-changing injury to play for Bobcats

Aunica Koch SWX
Devin Kirby was just like any other basketball player at Basha High School in Chandler, Arizona other than the fact that he wouldn’t stop growing. “My freshman year I started out like 6‘2 and then it’s crazy. I grew like three inches each summer,” said Bobcats’ sophomore forward Devin Kirby. “Going into my sophomore season I was like 6‘6, my junior year I was 6‘7 and then by the end of my senior year I was 6‘10.” But a freak accident more than sidelined Kirby his junior year. “We were in a Christmas Tournament, the championship game of a Christmas tournament. I went up for a lob and just got bumped in the back some and then my legs just gave out on me.” Kirby was taken from the game by ambulance, where it was discovered he had broke both of his tibias and dislocated both of his kneecaps. “I was shell-shocked,” said Kirby. “This was my first real injury - like no dislocations, not even like an ankle injury.” He was rushed into surgery where doctors placed three screws in each of his legs. Then the tedious recovery time began. Confined to a wheelchair, it took four months to even bend his knees - let alone start walking. But finally, that day came. “I just had to tune out all the negative comments and all the negative noise and just keep my head down and just realized that I would be able to play the game that I love again.” Though most colleges had withdrawn their interest in Kirby, Montana State did the opposite. “Just constant communication at checkups, how the rehab is going, how the process is going and everything like that. I’m just very grateful that they stuck with me.” “He believes that he’s a player, his teammates believe he can play, his staff believes he can play and I think all those things are coming together which has resulted in a better confidence level for him,” said Bobcats head coach Brian Fish. Though he still struggles with aches and pains, the redshirt sophomore recently set a new career-high with 19 points and would do it all over again if it meant playing for the Bobcats. “There wouldn’t be a think that I would change. You know things, they happen for a reason and everything like that. It’s been a long process but I love it all.”