Columbus East’s Julius Dailey, left, passes the ball while guarded by Floyd Central’s Caleb Washington during a basketball game at Columbus East High School in Columbus, Ind., Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023.
The Republic file photo
Julius Dailey has battled through injury over the past year.
It wasn’t until this season that the pain became too great. It forced Dailey, a senior at Columbus East, to miss a few basketball games with a dislocated knee. He made his return to the court in the Feb. 17 game against Madison.
Pain or no pain, Dailey is going to make one final push to end his high school career. It begins on Friday when the Olympians will take on the winner of today’s opening-round matchup between Columbus North and Franklin in the semifinal round of the Columbus North Sectional.
Before missing five games because of the injury, Dailey played in one quarter against East Central because it was senior night. Dailey experienced pain and swelling in his brace that he was wearing. He said it tightens his leg and pushes and squeezes it more. He wears the brace to secure his knee so it doesn’t go inward and pop out of place.
“It keeps my leg straight and only able to bend front and back, but not side to side,” Dailey explained. “It still hurts as of right now, but I’m going through it.”
Dailey was back on the court Feb. 17 against Madison. His team picked up the win, and he scored six points in the contest. In his second game back against Floyd Central Wednesday, he scored 11 points.
Columbus East’s Julius Dailey shoots over Trinity Lutheran’s Levi Froedge Dec. 2 in the Orange Pit at Columbus East at High School.
The Republic file photo
Dailey has been a boost for the Olympians. He’s averaging nine points and four rebounds, both of which are second on the team. He’s third on the team in assists at 1.1 per game.
“He’s that kind of kid and that kind of teammate. He’s a tough kid. He’s going to give you everything that he’s got. If he takes (the brace) off, he could be walking, and the kneecap would pop out of place,” East coach Brent Chitty said. “That’s what he’s trying to do for his team. It’s the kind of kid he is. He’s giving us what he’s got. It’s good to have him out there.”
Dailey recalled that his injury initially occurred in a game against Shelbyville last year. He said the knee has been out of place four other times from basketball and other activities. He’s been playing in a knee brace on his left knee for the past year. Following the season, he said he’ll have surgery to repair it.
“It’s been a rough road,” Dailey said. “I’m getting surgery after the season, so I won’t have to worry about it anymore.”
Following his season, Dailey is not sure what his future in basketball holds. He said if he didn’t have the injury, he was fully committed to playing somewhere.
With the injury happening, Dailey got to thinking about his next plan. He said he’s likely going to attend IUPUC. However, if the school plans to have a basketball program in the future, Dailey may consider it.
Dailey is currently focusing on the present. He and his team begin the sectional quest on Friday. East will have had nine days of rest to prepare for the game. However, the Olympians won’t know until later tonight if it their opponent is North or Franklin.
