NC State win ends with ‘scary’ fall for Jericole Hellems
Kevin Keatts had a hard time focusing on the final 28 seconds of N.C. State’s 91-82 win over Wake Forest on Saturday.
The Wolfpack coach was more concerned about the health of sophomore forward Jericole Hellems than the final half-minute.
Hellems collided with Wake Forest players Olivier Sarr and Chaundee Brown while fighting for a rebound with 28 seconds left. All three players crashed to the floor and Sarr, who is 7-foot and 250 pounds, landed on top of Hellems.
“It’s scary,” Keatts said. “These are my kids. Any time you see one of your kids on the floor, it’s tough.”
The game was delayed for more than 7 minutes while medical personnel tended to Hellems. He appeared to be shaken up but was moving his arms and legs while on the floor. He was stretchered off and taken to Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem as a precaution.
Hellems was being treated for a sore back and potential concussion, according to Craig Hammel, who is a spokesman for the team. Hellems’ dad, Torano, went with him to the hospital. Keatts said he was able to talk with Hellems before he was carted off.
“I told him to hang in there,” Keatts said.
Hellems was on the left wing and went to the basket when Andrien White’s 3-pointer, from the right wing, bounced off of the rim. Sarr was in front of Hellems and Brown was behind him. The three players went up for the ball with Hellems’ momentum taking him backward. The ball was tipped up and three players crashed to the floor.
Away from the ball, a flagrant foul was called on Wake Forest forward Isaiah Mucius for an elbow to N.C. State guard Braxton Beverly. There wasn’t a foul on the Hellems’ collision.
N.C. State guard C.J. Bryce was on the floor when Hellems got hurt. He said it looked like Hellems had hit his head on the floor after Sarr had landed on him.
“We’re just praying for him and hoping to get him back with us very soon,” Bryce said.
Both Keatts and Wake Forest coach Danny Manning opened their postgame comments by encouraging prayers for Hellems.
Hellems had 13 points, three rebounds and two assists in 29 minutes. He has been one of N.C. State’s best players so far this season.
The Wolfpack has a few days off this week for exams. Its next game is Sunday at UNC-Greensboro.
This story was originally published December 7, 2019 at 6:08 PM.
