Matt Maresca was riding high during his senior year in 2004 when he lead Warren Central High School to the state championship.

The 6-foot-7 forward fell back to Earth on Oct. 30, 2004. During practice, Maresca went up for a shot and landed on the floor, breaking his right arm just above his wrist.

After a plate and six screws were inserted to fix the break, Maresca spent last season on the bench, taking a medical redshirt.

Maresca watched helplessly throughout the season and as Western lost 77-68 to Denver in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament semifinals.

“It was tough because I was used to playing all the time,” Maresca said. “Sitting and watching everyone else play was really hard on me.”

In addition to adjusting to a year on the bench, Maresca also had to adjust to a new life at college.

“The transition from high school to college was pretty stressful on me,” he said. “It took me a while to get used to the change of tempo, conditioning and running. I was actually starting to get to that transformation right around the time when I got my injury.”

As the season progressed, Maresca worked to get ready for this year. He also overcame the disappointment of family members, friends and fans who didn’t get to see their homegrown Hilltopper play last season.

“I know he had to deal with questions away from the gym,” coach Darrin Horn said. “But Matt comes from a terrific program and a terrific family. I don’t think it affected him too much.”

Maresca’s teammates also helped him through the injury. Senior guard Anthony Winchester said the team tried to get Maresca involved in the team as much as possible.

“The strides he put during all last year are really going to show this year,” Winchester said. “Being a teammate, you just try to help him through it and help him along.”

For weeks after the injury, Maresca could do little in practice. He had a cast on his arm, limiting his running and conditioning.

Maresca would run up the bleachers in Smith Stadium, trying to stay in shape until he was cleared to practice in mid-December. He wasn’t able to play in full-contact practices, however, until January.

“I hated sitting out and watching everything,” Maresca said. “We’d worked hard through the summer and the beginning of fall and I just wanted to be out there with them.”

Western’s 10-day August trip to Spain to play five exhibition games helped Maresca get back into basketball shape.

Maresca was one of seven scholarship players who made the trip and scored 12 points, a personal tour best, in the second game.

“Matt’s injury set him back but he really got a chance to play and get better in Spain,” Horn said. “He’s improved his body, he’s better physically, he got stronger and he’s improved his overall game.”

With little height on the roster, Western is counting on Maresca to provide depth off the bench.

After sitting out a season, Maresca may have something to prove, but he isn’t going above the team to do so.

“I wanna show that I can do things,” Maresca said. “But I’m not going out of my way to do something and make it a one man show. It’s all about the team.”

Reach Jason Stamm
at sports@wkuherald.com.