Injured Vanderbilt signee Jordyn Cambridge takes new role in Ensworth state tournament run

Jordyn Cambridge keeps a list in practice and on game day.

Miss a layup? Expect pushups. Air ball a free throw in the state tournament? Better be ready for 10 push ups.

More:Tennessee high school basketball Division II state championship schedule

It's one of the roles the Ensworth point guard and Vanderbilt women's basketball signee took on when her senior season was put on the shelf due to a right knee injury that occurred in May during AAU ball and later required a second surgery in December.

"If they miss a wide-open layup, it's five pushups," Cambridge said after Ensworth's 58-36 win over Briarcrest Christian in the Division II-AA state semifinals. The Lady Tigers play Brentwood Academy at 5:30 p.m. Saturday in the Division II-AA state championship game at Lipscomb's Allen Arena.

"It's in practice and in warmups — they will do pushups right then — or if it's in a game I'll make them do it in practice the next day. It's air-balled shots."

That number was increased to 10 pushups for the state tournament.

"This week I told them, 'We have no room for error,'" Cambridge said.

Cambridge created the pushup system this year. It's been an effective tool for a team that has just one healthy senior on the floor in Delia Martinez and starts freshmen Kaiya Wynn and Annabel Frist.

"I just want to help this team anyway I can," Cambridge said. "Obviously, I can't play. I want to play. I'm fully passionate and invested in helping my team any way I can."

Cambridge sustained the initial knee injury in summer ball. She said she later developed arthrofibrosis in the knee when excessive scar tissue formed forcing pain.

"I would have been back had I not needed the second surgery," said Cambridge, who was a Miss Basketball finalist in 2017 and state tournament MVP.

She does some of her therapy at Vanderbilt. The coaching staff keeps tabs on her progress. Cambridge wants to be part of the Commodores' rebuilding process. Vanderbilt finished 7-24, the worst season in school history.

"I can't wait to get back," Cambridge said. "My main goal (after the state tournament) is to get back to where I can go next year and potentially be a starter and help rebuild the program."

Cambridge is rated as the No. 23 women's basketball prospect in the country for the class of 2018 by ESPN's Hoopgurlz.com. 

Ensworth coach Mary Taylor Cowles credited Cambridge's offcourt presence in helping the Lady Tigers (23-5) get back to the final.

"She wants it as much for this team as if she was on the floor with them," Cowles said. "She cares about her teammates."

Cambridge has been a second assistant on the staff, helping teach her teammates when she can. Without her, Ensworth has used a point guard by committee.

"(Jordyn) has taught us not only how to be a great teammate, but how to be a great communicator on the floor," freshman Annabel Frist said.

Reach Tom Kreager at tkreager@tennessean.com or 615-259-8089 and on Twitter @Kreager.