AJC > Sports > Tech > Blog > Archives > 2008 > October > 24 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USGet Well Bell!
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Yellow Jackets host Virginia for Homecoming tomorrow but I’d like to shift focuses just a bit to senior basketball player D’Andre Bell.
Bell was a part of the 2005 hoops signing class and traveled across the country from Pacific Palisades, California to play for Coach Hewitt and the Yellow Jackets. He played in every game last season and started most of them because his defensive tenacity and leadership as an upperclassman was crucial.
As you have likely read in other AJC articles, Bell was set to be a critical factor in the 2008/09 basketball season as a senior until he got hurt diving for a ball in practice. A visit to the doctor resulted in a diagnosis of spinal stenosis, which is a congenital defect that normally doesn’t show up until the age of 40-50 years. Obviously, Bell was fortunate to discover this issue now and while he was under the care and watchful eye of the Georgia Tech basketball program.
Treatment for either cervical or lumbar stenosis appears to be either removal or reshaping of spinal discs in extreme cases and physical therapy and weight loss in minor cases. Recovery times appear to be anywhere from one to two years depending on severity and treatment.
So…depending on the severity of Bell’s condition it sounds like he’ll be able to use his redshirt year, get treatment for the condition, finish his Management degree at Tech, and then see where things are at for the 2009/10 season as a redshirt Senior.
The Yellow Jacket basketball program will be hosting their annual Hoopfest as a part of the Homecoming weekend. There will be a chance to get autographs and watch a basketball scrimmage after the football team has defeated the Virginia Cavaliers by what I expect to be a score in the 28-13 range. (They cannot stop our defensive line and we’ll make them one dimensional by stopping Peerman…)
So I’m challenging everyone to get out there and support the hoops program after the football game is over. Maybe D’andre will be there with his team mates. And maybe some encouragement and well wishes from his fellow GT brothers and sisters will reassure him that the Tech community is thinking of him and that he really did choose the correct Institute and program when he came to Tech in 2005.
Go Jackets!
THWG!
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Comments
By CarolinaJacket
October 25, 2008 7:28 AM | Link to this
Best of luck D’andre, our prayers are with you. And thanks for all of the hard nosed bball you have given us over the years. You were the epitomy of a super blue color winner and we appreciate it very much. Hang tough young man.
By GT45
October 25, 2008 10:42 AM | Link to this
Best of luck, Dre. We’ll see you next year, for sure!
By TONY SHUMPERT
October 28, 2008 3:25 PM | Link to this
D, it’s not over yet. Sometimes in life, we are tested, and right now, you are facing the ultimate test. Continue on with your education, and what will be, will be. See you at the USC game.
By bearcasey
October 29, 2008 7:51 AM | Link to this
D’Andre Bell plays in the Mario West tradition at GT. It’s my hope that he recovers and becomes the elder statesman of GT’s great 2009-2010 team. Hang in there, D!