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Months after traumatic accident, Indiana teen shines at state all-star game

Danielle Elliot
Courtesy Twitter/IndyStar
Courtesy Twitter/IndyStar

Josh Speidel's lifelong dream came true in January, when the Columbus North (Ind.) High School senior learned that he'd been selected to play on the Indiana boys basketball all-star team. It seemed a fitting end to a fantastic high school career for a star athlete who was reportedly being recruited to play at the University of Vermont.

Days later, Speidel's dream suddenly seemed impossible. Speidel suffered a traumatic brain injury in a two-car crash on Feb. 1. The crash left him in a coma, nearly a month passing before he opened his eyes.

The all-star game was the furthest thing from anyone's mind. Yet basketball quickly became part of his recovery routine. In March, six weeks after the accident, his parents told Indy Star that he was slowly regaining consciousness. His attempts to speak were unintelligible, but he was showing signs that he understood what people were saying to him.

He was watching ESPN in the mornings and "30 for 30" documentaries at night. When he watched the Columbus North girls basketball team play in the state championship, his mother said, "He was getting a little worked up. He was making some movements and facial movements."

A month after the accident, his parents received news that they knew Speidel would love: he'd still be part of the Indiana All-Star team.

"That was his goal since he was 8," his mother said at the time.

Speidel has made tremendous progress in the four months since the devastating Feb. 1 crash. He left the rehabilitation hospital in May, after 117 days. He received his high school diploma on Saturday.

And on Monday, his all-star dreams came true.

According to Indy Star's Kyle Neddenriep,

When Speidel's wheelchair rolled around the corner, to the pocket of bleachers where the All-Stars sat along the baseline for the girls game, they were all smiles. The All-Stars quickly surrounded him and shared handshakes and a few laughs. The loudest ovation came later. Speidel, a 6-8 Columbus North star, was the last player introduced for pregame warmups. With the help of his mother, Lisa, and father, Dave, he took several assisted steps to join his teammates on the court.

He'd even practiced his signature on the drive to the game, knowing that the 13-man all-star team signs autographs during half-time of the girls' all-star game.

It is not the perfect ending he dreamed about. It was not the way anyone saw this All-Star experience going. But in taking those steps, Speidel showed more courage than he ever could have on the court. He proved that he's a fighter, that he'll continue working towards his goals, no matter how they might shift.

Ali Patberg, a friend of Speidel's, told Neddenriep, "When the accident happened, no one would have thought he would be there on that day with us. To be there, and show how strong he is, that was important. It was pretty emotional. He wanted to be there, and he worked hard so he could be there."

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Danielle Elliot is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Contact her at delliot@yahoo-inc.com or find her on Twitter and Facebook.