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UNC Basketball: What should Tar Heels expect from Jeremiah Francis in 2019-20?

By Trevor Marks

MIAMI, FLORIDA - JANUARY 19: Head coach Roy Williams of the North Carolina Tar Heels reacts against the Miami Hurricanes during the second half at Watsco Center on January 19, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FLORIDA - JANUARY 19: Head coach Roy Williams of the North Carolina Tar Heels reacts against the Miami Hurricanes during the second half at Watsco Center on January 19, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA – JANUARY 12: Head coach Roy Williams of the North Carolina Tar Heels goes to his knees during the second half of their game against the Louisville Cardinals at the Dean Smith Center on January 12, 2019 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Louisville won 83-62. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHAPEL HILL, NORTH CAROLINA – JANUARY 12: Head coach Roy Williams of the North Carolina Tar Heels goes to his knees during the second half of their game against the Louisville Cardinals at the Dean Smith Center on January 12, 2019 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Louisville won 83-62. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /

About The Injury & Operation

According to a 2018 story from Malika Andrews of the Chicago Tribune, such an operation is one that is not without significant risk. The operation, which “involves drilling small holes through articular cartilage of the knee and into the subchondral bone” (which is the layer of bone beneath the cartilage in a joint), has a goal of spurring stem cell growth and eventually the regrowth of new “cartilage-like tissue.”

However, according to one 2018 study, the failure rate of such an operation was alarmingly high, with NBA players experience future pain, discomfort, instability, and other issues years after the initial operation, in some cases leading to additional procedures and shortened careers — such as former NBA star Amar’e Stoudemire, who suffered lingering knee ailments throughout his career, and the perpetually-injured Greg Oden.

As such, medical professionals have shifted toward other alternatives, making the operation a rarity — only five NBA players have undergone microfracture surgery since 2010, with Los Angeles Clipper Patrick Beverley being the latest to have the operation last summer.

The procedure is spared only for the direst of player situations. Cartilage itself doesn’t regrow or regenerate following a nasty injury. Instead, it degrades gradually, thus leading to prolonged discomfort and a future with added knee/leg problems. By having microfracture surgery, a medical team — such as UNC Hospital’s — is indicating that the knee is in bad enough shape to necessitate going down a tumultuous path. And, given the fact that the tissue generated from the procedure lacks the shock-absorbing qualities of natural cartilage, it can only do so much for a player’s athletic career before the body fights back.

The operation’s history is riddled with re-injuries and future knee issues. It’s gloomy, disappointing, and outright depressing. Pessimism isn’t unwarranted when discussing Jeremiah Francis’ recovery. The damage in his knee is apparently serious, and the surgery itself is radical and risky.

But it’s not insurmountable. There is still some hope to be had that Francis can return to form and can resume a healthy playing career.

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