Every now and then, Drew Huff simply forgets to put on the brace.

And in those moments, one would be hard-pressed to know that she even needs it in the first place.

The fluidity of motion and quick cuts – whether on the basketball court or the softball field – hide the fact that, a little less than a year ago, the Lawrence High senior tore two ligaments in her right knee during a softball game and faced the possibility of seeing her promising athletic career come to an early end.

However, with an intense six-month rehab and brace in tow, Huff worked her way back into her role as the Lions’ starting point guard last winter, and is back at shortstop on the diamond this spring.

Not just back, but as good as ever, as evidenced by the letter-of-intent she signed last week to continue her basketball career 50 miles up the road at Benedictine College in Atchison – no small feat for a player who missed the crucial summer playing circuit after last May’s mishap.

How does it feel to be nearing the end of your two-sport career at Lawrence High?

It’s kind of sad. It’s been really fun these four years in softball and three years in basketball. I don’t know, it’s just coming to a conclusion. Knowing where I’m going for basketball is pretty exciting. I know I’m going to miss Lawrence High, but I’ve had a fun ride, so it’s not really that sad.

When you look back over your career, what stands out the most – memories of your basketball career, or your softball career?

I kind of have an equal split – probably more for basketball, just because that’s pretty much more of my love. I just like to play that a lot more. It’s a longer season, too.

What was going through your mind when you hurt your knee last year? Were you concerned about what impact it was going to have?

Yeah, it was really upsetting. It was right at the beginning of the summer when I was going to have my surgery. It takes six months to heal, so it would have been the whole summer and most of the fall season. That junior (summer) is where you get recruited, so it’s pretty upsetting not to get the looks that I could have got if I would have played. So I just worked really, really hard and I wanted to come back and have a good senior season.

I would imagine it was tougher coming back for basketball than softball. Is that what you found?

Yeah, basketball takes a lot more movement and agility. In my therapy after I had my surgery, we focused on basketball because that’s what was coming up and it just takes a lot more time and jumping and landing and everything. My therapist was really good and focused a lot on all those basketball skills.

Lawrence High Senior Drew Huff has lettered four years on the softball diamond for the Lions, yet will focus on basketball next season as a freshman at Benedictine College in Atchison.

Did you find yourself tentative at all when you got back out on the court?

The first couple of times I was just because I was like, ‘I don’t want to hurt it again. I don’t want to go through that all again.’ But once I got back out there, it was a little different with a brace, because I’m slower and stuff, but it felt good to be back out there.

Following basketball, you transitioned back into softball, where the injury actually occurred. Was there any trepidation doing that again?

No, not really. Going through everything in basketball, because there’s so many more movements than in softball, I knew I was going to be OK. Just making sure I don’t run into the first baseman again is pretty much all I need to worry about.

You never worried about sliding or turning a pivot at short?

Oh, sliding was a little scary the first couple of times because I didn’t know whether I could or not. So I just had to go for it, and luckily it’s on my right leg, because I slide on my left, so it works out good.

You mentioned earlier that basketball is your love. Is that why you decided to go that direction in college?

Yeah, pretty much since I was little, that’s been my main focus. I just really wanted to go play basketball. And also, going to Benedictine, I also have an opportunity to play softball, too.

Why did you choose Benedictine?

They have really good academics and I like the focus with God. And I really like their coach and their organization. They were really good this year, they made it to the Elite Eight in nationals, and I liked the girls that were there.

What other schools did you consider?

I was looking at Pitt State and some community colleges.

Were you ever concerned once you got hurt that playing in college might be something that was going to be taken away from you?

Yeah, it was scary, because, how were coaches going to see me? I didn’t know if they were going to come to high school games or whatever because I hadn’t had any contact (the summer following) sophomore year, so junior year was the main focus. So it was a little scary. So I was happy when coaches came and found me during basketball season this year.