Local Teen Commits To Play College Basketball 8 Months After Liver Transplant
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Following his successful liver transplant in September to repair the damage from stage 3 cirrhosis, forget basketball, Staphon Peterson had to learn how to walk again. Three months after the transplant Peterson started shooting but that didnβt go off without a hitch.
“He got so frustrated and discouraged,” Peterson’s mother Dr. Wendy Douglas recalled. “I was like listen, thatβs why weβre here. Weβre here so we can hit this milestone and keep moving forward.”
The milestones came quickly as Peterson upped his workouts in the gym all with his eyes still set on playing college ball in the Fall. Months removed from physically not being able to play basketball Peterson received not one, but two scholarship offers. Ultimately he committed toΒ St. Thomas University in Miami.
“I was shocked myself,” Peterson said. “Iβm not going to lie, because Iβve always doubted myself. Because I always felt like Iβm not where I needed to be. But when it happened it was just like wow, I was so in shock. I still havenβt taken everything in, for me to have two schools reach out to me and tell me they want me to play for them itβs amazing.”
Peterson says his game is at 80% of what it was pre surgery. Heβll enroll in August and is looking forward to taking things to the next level.
“Theyβre telling me they understand where I am but theyβre going to push me to be even better than I was before.”
Itβs also deeper than basketball for Peterson and his family, they plan on starting the Staphon Peterson Foundation to assist other athletes who have to go through transplants.
