[Quality88]

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Having just returned to the basketball court, Jared Carter couldn't believe it happened again.
In June, Carter -- a junior center at the University of Kentucky -- was given the green light to play again after six months' rehabilitation from reconstructive surgery on his right shoulder. But five minutes into his first pickup game, the 7-foot-2 Carter went for a rebound and felt that same feeling in his shoulder.
It had dislocated -- again. For the third time in less than a year.
"I knew it right when it happened," Carter recalled. "I knew what it had felt like from the time before. It just popped out."
So Carter, who initially injured the shoulder during preseason practice last year and then played in three games before dislocating it again, underwent another surgery.
Carter said doctors told him the injury was to another bone in his right shoulder than in the previous two injuries. They called it a "freak" accident.
"You just take life as it goes, but this was real tough," said Carter, a Scott County High School product. "You ask, 'Why did this happen to me?' but it had already happened. I just had to get through it. There was no other option for me."
Now Carter is back on the court one more time. He was cleared to participate in full-contact drills Oct. 21.
"He is a fantastic rehab guy," UK coach Billy Gillispie said. "He's done as well as anyone that I've seen. I hope that translates to him being a really good player. I think he can surprise some people. Our folks are really excited about his potential in the way he has been running and moving, even though he has had an injured shoulder."
Gillispie and several UK players said they were impressed with how Carter has worked despite the injuries. While waiting to be fully cleared, Carter underwent all of the team's non-contact drills, and he participated in Gillispie's preseason conditioning "boot camp."
"He showed us all he wanted to be there with us," sophomore center Perry Stevenson said. "Every day he was in the gym with us, and if it was not full-contact stuff, he was running it with us. Even if he's on the side doing post drills, he'd run with us."
After playing in 17 games in 2005-06 as a freshman, Carter entered last season billed as one of the team's most improved players. But instead of logging key minutes as the backup to Randolph Morris, he scored only one point all season.
"It was hard to sit out," he said. "I wanted to be out on that court. Now I've been almost a year without basketball."
Carter said his doctors told him his shoulder should be fine.
"It feels really strong right now. It feels great." he said. "I have been in the weight room lifting weights with it, and I have not had any problems.
"I've made a good recovery."
Carter admitted it will take him a few weeks to get over the mental hurdle of playing full speed and not worrying about another injury.
"Mentally, it's going to be pretty hard to get back to fully trust your shoulder, even if it is 100 percent," he said. "But it should be good after not too long. Mentally, I feel like I am on the uprise."
The Wildcats hope Carter stays healthy because he's expected to be an integral part of this season's team. UK lacks post players, and the 250-pound Carter will be expected to play crucial minutes.
But for now, he is happy just to be back on the court. Gillispie called Carter "the most anxious player in America."
"I'm real antsy," Carter said. "I've been through a lot. I'm getting excited to go out there and show everybody what I can do."

Shoulder has made Carter's road rough