It may be an all-star game, a you-dunk, I-dunk game, a no-defense-whatsoever game.
But when one of the referees is left with a gaping mouth after a monster slam, you know you’re in trouble.
Ronnie Fields is back. The Indiana All-Star team saw it firsthand.
“I’m only 80 percent right now,” the Farragut All-American said. “I came down here to have fun and win. There’s a big difference now; I get more tired. I’m not in the shape I was six months ago. Once I get back on top of my game, I should be all right.”
After a car accident Feb. 26 abruptly ended his prep career and left him in a protective halo for weeks, Fields played in the third annual Illinois vs. Indiana Roundball Classic on Saturday night at East Chicago High School.
Fields finished with 36 points on 16-of-28 shooting, and Illinois cruised 132-117.
Fields told All-Star coach Sonny Parker that his doctor gave him the OK to play on Thursday, Parker said.
“I told him he’s doing well, and that he doesn’t really have to impress,” Parker said before the game. . “Things happened so suddenly in his career. He missed the (state) tournament, the all-star game. This is a highlight for him.”
Fields’ doctor, Paul Meyer, who performed surgery on him, said early last week he did not give Fields the go-ahead to play competitively. Meyer then said all further questions would have to be addressed by Fields or his family.
Fields started the game, even though graduations, banquets and doctor’s appointments kept him from practicing with Parker, assistant coach Mac Irvin and the rest of the Illinois All-Stars. Illinois has lost badly to the Indiana team the last two years, but it never had to face a player like Fields before.
Fields was injured when his rental car swerved off the road after he tried to avoid an object in the street. He hit the guardrail twice, breaking three vertebrae and fracturing his skull.
He was considering entering the NBA draft, but the injury postponed his dream. He signed a letter of intent to play for DePaul and might sit out next season under Proposition 48 guidelines, unless he signs up with the Teenage Professional Basketball League, a new league trying to get off the ground this summer.
“My doctor said to just take it easy, not do too much,” Fields said. “I don’t know much about (the teenage league) but we’re still looking at it as an option.”
Fields looked unbelievable in the first half, despite playing with four fouls. At one point, after Fields crammed an offensive rebound like he was stuffing newspaper in a trash can, a good portion of the crowd leaned back in awe.
By halftime, as Illinois took a 75-45 lead, even the Indiana fans were marveling at the player “with a broken neck.” Fields was jumping so high he made the taller Indiana team look slow and slower.
Fields gave a fan his wristband after the game and signed at least 30 autographs, including one for the referee.
“A player like Ron is special,” said Irvin. “He’s got composure. You just don’t find that with young kids.”
