Two Bears | Two Paths
 
Four standing banners with senior student-athletes donning a Panthers jersey greet spectators as they enter the Klotche Center. But on the court, you won't find number 22.
 
Jaye Two Bears has spent this season making an impact as a member of the coaching staff, but that wasn't always the plan.
 
"She [Jaye] was an incredibly confident player," head women's basketball Kyle Rechlicz stated. "She was somebody that when we first started recruiting, we didn't think we would have a chance at, and we just stayed really consistent in the process staying in touch with her and her brother Cody."
 
Two Bears had hopes of playing college ball but just before heading into her junior year of high school, an injury set her back.
 
"I was at an AAU tournament in Minneapolis and I tore my ACL," Two Bears said. "I didn't know at the time I tore it because it felt like a sprain. I still played the tournament and played the whole weekend."
 
Basketball continued as planned for Two Bears, who was in the midst of a busy AAU summer schedule.
 
"I got home and had a tournament the next weekend, I just thought it was sprained," Two Bears commented. "I called the doctor because it continued to hurt. He did an MRI and they called the next day and told me I tore my ACL."
 
"I was in denial. I told them I just played basketball last night and I was running and jumping. I asked if I could still play and they said no."
 
Despite the setback, Two Bears still had plenty of time to get healthy and recover to prove to the colleges that were calling that she was ready to play. But then it happened again.
 
Typically, an ACL tear is roughly a nine to 12-month recovery process. Two Bears came back in five.
 
"I passed all my tests and requirement. I played three games my junior year and the day after a game, I jumped up and landed on my knee and heard a pop. I knew I tore it again. I went to the doctor and he confirmed it was torn. That and my meniscus."
 
With the school year fast approaching, Two Bears had a decision to make. Keep playing at much less than 100 percent or get surgery and likely miss the rest of the year to prepare for her senior season.
 
"They ended up taking out my ACL and fixed my meniscus. It was a month of recovery, in time for playoff time. I didn't practice or do anything, only played in games. I taped both my knees and wore braces. We ended up getting third at state that year. Three days after state tournament, they ended up putting my ACL back in, my third surgery at the time."
 
Recovery time. Knowing the interest from several colleges including Milwaukee, it was time for Two Bears to get healthy and prove herself for the senior season.
 
But then injury struck yet again. While running outside, Two Bears stepped in a hole and felt another pop.
 
"My meniscus was torn again. I ended up getting surgery for my knee and they did a lot more than I thought. They cut the outside of my knee to put my patella back in place."
 
Despite Two Bears' injury history, Rechlicz was still interested. "I was really intrigued by her not only as an athlete but as a person as well and the influence she could have in our program."
 
Rechlicz made the call and a visit and in 2016-17, Two Bears would be a Panther.
 
WELCOME TO MILWAUKEE
 
On November 13, 2016, Two Bears stepped on the court for the first time wearing black and gold. After a year off, Two Bears was rested and healthy, ready for more hoops.
 
Two Bears' first points for the Panthers came two games and later on December 14, the freshman knocked down three triples and added three rebounds, a block, and a steal in a win over Chicago State.
 
The Cannon Ball, N.D. native appeared in 29 games that year and had flashes of the player she was prior to injury.
 
"I was optimistic," Two Bears said. "Most freshman don't play all those games the first year. I was confident I could do it. There were games that I had where I felt like I did a lot of good things. Felt like I belonged there. Knowing all the hard work that I put in when I was younger was paying off."
 
Following a solid freshman campaign, things were looking up for Two Bears. That offseason, she headed to another surgery for a clean-up.
 
"I had another surgery to fix my meniscus because I ended up tearing it sometime during the season. I played through it. Didn't do anything but rehab all summer and haven't really recovered from it since."
 
Two Bears battled the next two years but never came back full strength. Rechlicz hinted at a possible student coaching role, but Two Bears wasn't ready to give up the game.
 
"I kept telling her she didn't have to, that she could still have an incredible role on the team," Rechlicz said. "Coming into this last summer, she realized it was going to be really hard for her from a physical standpoint."
 
Knowing what she had gone through as a player and the fact that she could still be a part of the team she had spent the last three years with, Two Bears was on board.
 
"It has changed my perspective a little bit. Even as a player, I wanted to be a coach," Two Bears commented. "This helped confirm it. Being around the game has been great. Still being able to be competitive."
 
For Rechlicz, having someone that sees the game differently on the staff has been a huge benefit. "We've utilized her in that coaching role. Really asking her opinion on things, asking her what she sees on the court. She's helping us more now than she would have if she was one of the playing members of the team."
 
Being on the staff with classmates on the floor isn't easy, but Two Bears and Rechlicz have a strong bond. "I trust her, and she keeps it separate - her relationship with players and her relationship with the coaching staff," Rechlicz commented. "She's really trying to make them better in practice. She's vocalizing more late in the season and gaining more confidence in that coaching position."
 
WHAT'S NEXT?
 
Two Bears graduates in May, and now with nearly a year of student coaching under her belt, she sees a future in the profession.
 
"Hopefully I can get a job on a staff somewhere," Two Bears said. "As graduate assistant or on staff at another school."
 
As for her coach, she has no doubt Two Bears would be a good fit for a coach.
 
"I think that she would make a great coach. She has such a great vision of the game. She can watch opponents and kind of read what they are trying to do before a lot of coaches who have been in this profession for a while can. I am really excited for her next step and I'm going to do whatever I can to help with that next step."