Cal's Tierra Rogers

Being a blog about Stanford women’s basketball, we love to make fun of Cal. This year, Cal has recruited an excellent class of freshmen and C and R are already thinking Stanford is going to really have their hands full.

We are sorry to hear about Cal freshmen recruit and Bay Area local basketball player Tierra Rogers. She collapsed after complaining of shortness of breath and was rushed to the hospital. Tests revealed she has a rare heart disease, Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia, a potentially fatal condition if it had not been discovered. She had surgery to have a defibrillator implanted in her chest. Reducing rigorous physical activity will lessen the risks on her heart. Her college basketball career is over.

In high school, Tierra played for Sacred Heart Cathedral. Rogers led her high school team to state titles from 2006-08, including perfect 32-0 seasons in 2007 and '08. She lost only three games in her entire four-year high school career. Last year, Tierra’s father, Terrell Rogers, was shot and killed at halftime of one of her games outside the Sacred Heart Cathedral gym in San Francisco on Jan. 12, 2008. Tierra considered giving up basketball. Instead she went on to finish the season 32-0, winning the state title and being ranked No. 1 in the nation.

We are glad Cal Coach Joanne Boyle is with her. "My first reaction was, 'Thank God she's still alive and with us,' " Boyle said. "We'll figure out another passion for her, but it won't be basketball. She's defined by more than basketball."

She is defined by more than basketball.

We wish her much success in her college career at Cal.