Basha’s Knox gets on track in big way after ankle injury
Two weeks before practices began, sophomore sprinter Percy “Trey” Knox showed up at Chandler Basha High’s track with his foot in a boot, rolling up on a scooter.
Track and field coach Marcus Brunson gave Knox the “keep your head up” speech, after Knox informed him that he had suffered a fracture ankle playing in a club 7-on-7 football tournament. Brunson, deep down, figured this track season would be a wash for him.
That was February.
Last week, Knox, living up to the promise he gave his coach, was back on the track, and, after four weeks in a boot to let the ankle heal, did something that shocked Brunson. He turned in an 11.23second 100-meter time to place second in the Chandler City Meet. It was his first and maybe only meet of the season, as Knox turned his attention this week to the start of Basha’s football spring practices, fully cleared to participate.
“In my mind, I had more or less concluded that this (track) season was going to be a wash for him,” Brunson said about that February meeting. “But he must’ve sensed what I was thinking because that’s when he stopped me in my tracks and told me point-blank that he would be back this season. And not only would he be back, he would be faster than last year.
“After he said that, I knew without a shadow of a doubt that he would be back, no matter what. Although I would be lying if I said that I thought he would still PR, though. I knew that he wouldn’t have many opportunities to compete, and plus I figured that he would be rusty since he wouldn’t be able to practice much this season.”
So to see Knox not only make it back to compete for a meet this track and field season, but to PR, was testament to
Brunson’s determination and belief in himself. Knox made a believer out of Basha football coach Chris McDonald last season when he turned in big plays on defense as a lock-down corner.
But Knox, who is 5-foot-9, 165 pounds, isn’t content with his varsity contributions as a sophomore last season. Realizing this could be a young defense next season, he wants to break out big. That’s why these spring practices are important to him.
“We did a lot of rehabbing and my ankle definitely feels good,” Knox said. “I’ve been out here training and haven’t had any problems.”
Knox, whose father helps coach the football team and was a former world class track and field athlete in the sprints and jumps in the 1990s when he competed for Arizona, stayed positive after the injury, doing whatever it took to get back.
“Our whole defense is mainly (class of ) 2026,” Knox said. “We’ve got a couple of seniors. But a lot of the 2026 have to step up. But we have a lot of experience from last year.”
Knox, who has added 10 pounds since last year, learned from cornerback Miles Lockhart, who already is at Ohio State to begin his college career.
“I would always ask him things in practice for tips and he would show me,” Knox said.
Knox was part of a national championship flag football team that his dad coached. Trey’s father, Percy Knox Jr., pushed his son more into football than track. But he knew the value track would play in his son’s football career.
“He can always become a track guy,” Percy said of his son. “It’s hard to go from track to football, so I made sure he was more focused on football. I can always teach him how to run.”
McDonald has seen the resiliency in Trey, who will be the only returning starter in the secondary.
“He’s competitor,” McDonald said. “He’s got a high football IQ. He was a young man who always had that. He’s got that quick twitch to him. He knows this, but it was about him hitting the weight room really hard, putting together his body for three more years to do it.
“He’ll be one of the top corners in the state for his age. He started last year for us and did a really good job.”
Knox is looking forward to helping Basha try to win another Open championship. He was a freshman when Basha broke through to capture its first Open state title in 2022.
“I’ve always had confidence in my abilities,” Knox said. “Just showing everyone that even if I’m smaller I can still play.”