Some day, Danielle McCray will play for pay. When is the question.

“I really haven’t looked ahead that far,” McCray said Sunday. “I’m just trying to get back as fast as possible.”

After undergoing surgery in a week or so on the knee she injured in practice Thursday, McCray will face a rehab of eight to nine months, meaning she won’t be playing in the WNBA this summer.

Although it’s likely she’ll be selected in the pro draft on April 8, the WNBA season will run from May to August and McCray probably won’t even be allowed on a basketball floor until September at the earliest.

“She’s going to be OK,” KU coach Bonnie Henrickson said. “She’ll be drafted, she’ll play professionally, and she’ll be great with rehab.”

In the meantime, McCray will continue to be an assistant coach/cheerleader as she recovers from the torn ACL.

“I’ve heard from a lot of people, probably from all the Big 12 teams through Facebook or phone calls,” she said. “It’s cool how people care about you.”

Kansas State seniors Ashley Sweat and Kari Kincaid made it a point to seek out McCray following the Jayhawks’ 70-60 victory in Allen Fieldhouse.

“Kari and Ashley hugged me,” McCray reported, “and said they’d pray for me.”