Reports: Wichita State’s Anton Grady diagnosed with spinal concussion

The mood at HP Field House gradually improved as reports of Wichita State University basketball player Anton Grady’s health grew more encouraging throughout Friday night. Grady was unable to move when he left on a stretcher during Friday afternoon’s game. By the evening movement began to return, slowly, to his extremities.

Grady suffered a spinal concussion in Friday’s game, according to the results of an MRI. Wichita State coach Gregg Marshall told ESPN’s Jeff Goodman that Grady would be better in a day or so. Maggie Marshall, daughter of the coach, Tweeted that “Anton has a spinal concussion and he will be out for a few days. Thankful he is okay.”

WSU athletic administrators, however, declined to confirm those reports. In a release Friday night, WSU said Grady’s MRI came back negative and a neurosurgeon is scheduled to review the results and prepare a diagnosis on Saturday.

Spinal concussions are a temporary injury to the spinal cord, caused by the neck bending or twisting sharply. Recovery is expected within 24 hours.

Earlier Friday, Grady was “alert and responsive, has feeling in his extremities and is in overall good spirits,” according to a news release from the WSU athletic department.

Grady was taken from Friday’s game on a stretcher after collapsing on the court. Grady, while turning to run, collided with a University of Alabama player.

He took a few, stumbling steps before falling to the court. In the news release, WSU describes Grady hitting Alabama’s Dazon Ingram with his chin, causing his head to rotate.

“A CT scan came back negative,” according to the release.

A CT scan would be used to rule out broken bones. An MRI would be used to further investigate damage to soft tissue and nerves.

WSU coach Gregg Marshall, during a postgame news conference, described Grady as alert.

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

Marshall visited Grady in the hospital after leaving the HP Field House.

Grady, after losing the ball, ran into Ingram with 3:07 remaining in the game. He fell after a step or two and didn’t move.

WSU trainer Todd Fagan and other medical personnel attended to him. They fitted him in a neck brace, loaded him on a stretcher and wheeled him to an ambulance for transport to a nearby trauma center.

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,” WSU 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.”

Grady, a senior from Cleveland, is playing his first season at WSU.

University of Southern California players, waiting in the arena’s interior before the start of their game, 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 2:39 PM with the headline "Reports: Wichita State’s Anton Grady diagnosed with spinal concussion."