CHAMPAIGN — Mikaala Shackelford bounced back from a torn ACL during her junior year at Hopkins High School in Minnetonka, Minn., to help the Royals win their third straight Minnesota Class 4A state title as a senior.
Also on that team? Future Northwestern standout Nia Coffey.
While Coffey, now entering her junior season as the Wildcats’ top player, has Northwestern coming off an NCAA tournament appearance, Shackelford’s college basketball career at Illinois never really got started.
Shackelford suffered two more injuries during her redshirt freshman season.
She missed all of last season rehabbing it and did not receive medical clearance to play this coming season, according to coach Matt Bollant, ending her collegiate career.