Recent high school graduate and Notre Dame recruit, Eric Katenda, was accidentally hit in the eye by an opponent during a pick-up game in Washington, D.C., this summer. A massive build-up of blood developed behind his eye, which severed his optic nerve. The 6-foot-8 power forward has little hope of regaining vision in the eye.
Sudden blindness in one eye requires a long recovery process, as an individual must adjust to depth perception and motor skills with only one lens of sight. Katenda was expected to play for Notre Dame in the 2011-12 season. However, it is doubtful that he will ever again be able to play at Division I level with vision in only one eye.
According to the Chicago Tribune, Notre Dame confirms that it will honor the Wichita, Kan., native’s scholarship provided that he completes coursework he was scheduled to finish before the September enrollment begins. Notre Dame basketball coach Mike Brey, is encouraging Katenda to take the fall off and enroll in the spring. Brey speaks regularly with Katenda and is enthused that he will attend Notre Dame focusing on his education.
“[Katenda is] great,” Brey told the Tribune. “He understands the reality that playing basketball at the Big East level may never be part of the equation again. He’s very understanding of that. In the last two weeks, I think he’s really come to grips with understanding that getting an education is now, very, very important. He’s very realistic about it.
“I don’t know if I’ve been more depressed, handling Eric and talking to him through this. He’s been unbelievable. His frame of mind has picked me up a couple times on the phone,” says Brey.
