Greenville star trying to stay positive after a second ACL tear

Greenville’s Trevor Zamarron splits the defense of two Coopersville players during a team camp at Hope College in June 2023. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Trevor Zamarron was sore and a little loopy as he sat in the passenger seat of his mom’s car on the way home from Detroit on Friday. 

His left knee was throbbing after getting some fresh new scars from a second ACL surgery. 

But the recent Greenville High School grad was trying to stay positive. 

“The first time, it really really sucked,” Zamarron said. “This time, I’m being more positive about it. I’m doing what the doctor is saying and doing everything right.”

As a junior, Zamarron led the Greenville basketball team with 19.2 points per game and got an offer from Spring Arbor University, which he accepted. 

But the 6-foot, 175-pound point guard, missed his entire senior year when he tore his ACL on Nov. 1, 2023 during a fall-ball scrimmage. Now, he’ll have to miss his freshman season after tearing it again in April during a workout at Spring Arbor.

“I was just frustrated with everything because I wanted to play so bad,” Zamarron said. “Even after missing my senior year. My team did well without me. But I thought we could have played even better if I had played.”

Greenville started the season on an impressive 10-2 run and finished 14-10.

Greenville’s Trevor Zamarron shares a laugh with a teammate during a game against Belding on Dec. 29, 2023. He missed his entire senior season with his first ACL tear. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).

He sat on the bench with his teammates and kept stats. But he wanted to be playing.

“Every game that I went to, I was itching just to touch the floor just one last time,” Zamarron said. “That itch wasn’t the best idea. I knew would have a chance to tear it again. And I did, which was stupid of me. It was so frustrating.”

It’s been hard for his parents - Tracy and Jason Zamarron - as well.

“As parents, we were crushed for him,” Tracy said. “He had big goals for his senior season. And to not be able to achieve those was extremely disappointing. He’s a tough kid though, and if anything, he’s learned to be resilient through adversity. SAU’s coaches have been nothing but amazing. They honored his scholarship offer with a redshirt and even came to the hospital to be with him today.”

He had the same surgeon that operated on Detroit Pistons star Cade Cunningham.

“Spring Arbor suggested a doctor in Detroit,” Zamarron said. “This doctor did Cade Cunningham’s knee.” 

Since he didn’t have surgery until Friday, Zamarron went to prom without crutches and got to walk across the stage unencumbered for graduation last week.

Now, he’s hoping to be preparing for his first year of college basketball next spring.

Trevor Zamarron plays with his MBA travel team during the summer of 2023. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).