Wichita State’s Anton Grady ‘alert, talking’ after collision and collapse on court

Wichita State basketball player Anton Grady was taken from Friday’s game on a stretcher after collapsing on the court. Grady, while turning to run, appeared to collide with his head into the shoulder of an Alabama player.

Wichita State coach Gregg Marshall described Grady as alert during a postgame news conference. Marshall and the team planned to visit Grady in the hospital after leaving the HP Field House.

“Anton is alert, awake and talking,” Marshall said. “He said he has feelings in his extremities, but can’t move.”

Grady, after losing the ball, appeared to run into Alabama’s Dazon Ingram with 3:07 remaining in the game. He fell after a step or two and didn’t move. Wichita State trainer Todd Fagan and other medical personnel attended to him. They fitted him in a neck brace, loaded him on the stretcher and wheeled him to an ambulance.

A fan yelled “We’re praying for you, Anton,” which brought applause from players and other fans.

“Seeing your brother on the court like that, obviously it’s more than the game at that point,” Wichita State senior Ron Baker said. “It’s life. It’s frightening. It’s hard to focus on the game itself, because you could be in his shoes just like him.”

Southern California players applauded for Grady as the stretcher passed by. Alabama coach Avery Johnson said he did not see what happened.

“I did hear what hospital he’s going to, so I’m going to be on standby and see whenever I can go and visit, if they would allow any visitors,” Johnson said.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with him,” Alabama guard Riley Norris said.

Alabama defeated No. 20 Wichita State 64-60.

This story was originally published November 27, 2015 at 4:41 PM with the headline "Wichita State’s Anton Grady ‘alert, talking’ after collision and collapse on court."