Gorham High grad Mackenzie Holmes, right, was leading Indiana University with 17.9 points and 8.2 rebounds per game when she injured her left knee. Doug McSchooler/Associated Press
Indiana University junior forward Mackenzie Holmes “underwent a successful procedure on her knee” on Thursday and will begin immediate rehab, according to a statement from the school.
Holmes, the former Gorham High star, was having a standout season for the sixth-ranked Hoosiers, who are 14-2 and 6-0 in the Big Ten. Holmes was leading Indiana with 17.9 points and 8.2 rebounds per game when she injured her left knee. She also had a team-high 26 blocked shots.
Earlier this season she was named to the John R. Wooden midseason Top 25 watch list as one of the top players in the nation.
Holmes missed the last two games for the Hoosiers with a knee injury. She last played on Jan. 5 when she scored 16 points and grabbed eight rebounds in a 76-53 win over Wisconsin. Indiana has had two more games postponed because of COVID-19 issues within the Indiana program.
While there were no other details in the statement by Indiana regarding the nature of the injury, the procedure or a timeline for her return, Coach Teri Moren indicated in an interview on the Big Ten Network on Wednesday that Holmes could return sometime this season.
“I don’t have a timeline, but we’re keeping our fingers crossed that we do see her back, whether it’s the end of February, beginning of March, and certainly the postseason,” said Moren in the interview. “She’s a big part of what we do and we’ve missed her tremendously.”
Holmes released a statement on social media saying, “I want to thank you for the outpour of thoughts and prayers. Your support means everything to me! I am going to be back and better in no time thanks to a great medical team we have here at IU. In the meantime, I’ll be the loudest one on the bench, continuing to support my team in the pursuit of the goals we have set for this season!”
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