Gerson’s sophomore year, the 2006-2007 season, she entered school a promising prospect on a team that had just won the state prep title for the 10th straight year along with a club team that had also won AAU Nationals. The 5-foot-10 guard had earned national recognition for her play and interest from some of the best college programs in the country. Then she suffered a meniscus tear in her knee that derailed her season in the team’s first practice in November 2006.

Gerson had surgery to repair the tear shortly thereafter and returned to the court for the big showdown against Philly power Germantown Academy (Fort Washington, Pa.) in mid-December. It was a huge game for Peddie and Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma was in attendance watching both Gerson and Germantown’s Caroline Doty, a recent UConn signee. Gerson played eight minutes when her season was interrupted yet again. She jumped into the air for a rebound and when she landed she tore the meniscus in the opposite knee.

The second tear cost Gerson the rest of the regular season though she returned in time for the playoffs where Peddie won both league and state titles. The injuries would hamper her spring and summer. She was invited to play in the USA Basketball Youth Developmental Festival but was unable to compete due to the swelling and pain. She had to have her knees drained of the liquid causing the swelling at least 10 times between the March and August which cost her most of the NCAA viewing period.

Despite her work ethic and desire to play she finally accepted that rest was the best thing for her ailing knees. She took the entire month of August off and was able to return this past fall for the weekend-long NCAA viewing period and began regaining her strength. The rest and healing yielded a much more rewarding season for Gerson and her team. Even though the Falcons won the NJISAA Prep A Championship the last two years the evidence of her impact can be seen in its 23-4 record this season. Her sophomore year the team posted an 18-10 mark when she saw limited action.

Gerson brings a court-savvy and scoring to the floor at the guard position that should help bolster a Cavalier backcourt that will graduate four guards between now and when Gerson hits campus. She will get to play one season with ACC standout Monica Wright.

Gerson’s commitment makes two straight classes Virginia has gone to Philly and grabbed a top player. This fall the Cavaliers signed 6-3 forward Chelsea Shine from Conestoga High School (Berwyn, Pa.), the No. 80 ranked player in the 2008 class. Gerson will have a chance this summer now that she’s healthy to prove she too is a top 100 caliber player against the nation’s best with her club team the Philly Belles.

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Chris Hansen is the National Director of Scouting for Women’s Basketball at HoopGurlz.com. He leads the panel that evaluates and ranks girl's basketball prospects nationally for HoopGurlz. Chris has been involved in the women’s basketball community since 1998 as a coach, trainer, evaluator and reporter. He can be reached at chris@hoopgurlz.com.