Villanova Guard Has A ‘Deeper Appreciation’ For Basketball After Health Scare

NEW ORLEANS — Division 1 college athletes have known little except the sport they excel in, with most of their young lives spent honing their craft in order to make it to the next level. 

To have it taken away, or at least threatened, is hard to comprehend. For Villanova senior guard Caleb Daniels, a medical condition made him take a step back from the game he loves.

Last April, Daniels was diagnosed with myocarditis, which is inflammation of the heart muscle, and a diagnosis that required rest in order to heal. For Daniels, that meant no basketball. From April until September, Daniels was forced to refrain from participating in physical activities, not fully knowing when he’d be able to return. 

“It was a long journey and it still is a long journey,” Daniels told reporters on Friday. “When I initially caught COVID, it was stressful and I was trying to just get back, trying to stay in shape which is kind of tough because I was in a lot of pain. I initially caught COVID last year, and then I took the summer off because I had my heart condition and I wasn’t healthy, but I took it day-by-day. It was a marathon and the process wasn’t going to happen overnight. It was more of a gradual time period. So, my coaches and my brothers kept me up and kept me positive as well.”

In September, Daniels was cleared to play, and the senior guard has played well for the Wildcats this season. Daniels has played in 34 games for Villanova, logging 27.3 minutes per game, averaging 10.2 points and 3.8 rebounds per game. 

“He’s been through everything,” head coach Jay Wright said on Thursday. “He’s got COVID twice. He had myocarditis. All the things we feared that you test for, that you worry about young athletes getting, he got it. He was out from April to September. He couldn’t do anything. Nothing. He couldn’t even shoot free throws.”

“And then he comes back this year and he gets COVID again,” Wright continued. “And he’s missed so much. And to see him playing at the level he is right now, and to be back home in New Orleans is awesome. What’s been so impressive is I think his faith and his mental toughness. You never saw him down. You never saw it, even when he was coming back from injuries and stuff, you didn’t see him frustrated. It’s incredible. And it’s why he’s in the position he is in now. And as I said, he’s playing the best basketball of his career.”

Daniels will be expected to take on an increased workload in Villanova’s semifinal matchup against Kansas, following the news that starting guard Justin Moore tore his achilles against Houston in the Elite Eight. Regardless of the outcome, Daniels says that his health battles have given him a “deeper appreciation” for the game he loves.

“Going through what I’ve been through, it brought a deeper appreciation for basketball,” Daniels said. ”Knowing that it can be taken from you at any given time. So you have to appreciate every moment you have on the court, with my teammates and my brothers and my coaches. Just knowing that it can be taken in the blink of an eye, definitely brought a deeper level of appreciation.”

Villanova and Kansas will tip off in the first game of the Final Four, Saturday at 6:09 eastern.

Joe Morgan is the Sports Reporter for The Daily Wire. Most recently, Morgan covered the Clippers, Lakers and the NBA for Sporting News. Send your sports questions to [email protected].

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