Simpson basketball guard hopeful to play again after being taken to emergency room
Simpson junior point guard Kevin Robello wore black shades inside of the men's basketball office on Tuesday.
Robello, 21, was just three days removed from collapsing at the court while playing against Westcliff University last Saturday. He had been chasing after a loose ball in the first half before an opposing guard hit him with an incidental elbow.
The elbow knocked Robello to the ground with such force, he began having an epileptic seizure.
Simpson trainer Brittany Plummer immediately rushed to Robello's aid with play stopping at the 9:41 mark. Plummer kept Robello's head still and treated him until paramedics arrived.
Roughly 300 fans and administrators were on hand watching the game when the injury occurred. It was Plummer's fast actions that prevented further damage. Paramedics from Mercy Medical Center arrived at 8:06 p.m. and Robello walked off the court with the assistance of Plummer and emergency personnel at 8:14 p.m.
"(Plummer) was phenomenal and it was such a unique hit," Simpson coach Todd Franklin said. "(My family) goes to rodeo every week during the summer and you see people get knocked out. But this was more than just a concussion and she immediately reacted."
Robello's injury as it turned out, wasn't as severe as he and his teammates feared.
"People that I've never met have been supporting me," Robello said. "It's really just heartwarming and humbling really to see the support I have."
Franklin said his team on Monday was still reeling from Saturday's events.
"We didn't practice, we had a team meeting and we had guys crying for two hours," Franklin said.
Robello had positive takeaways from the events that occurred after being hospitalized for a night at Mercy Medical Center. He was released from the hospital and returned to Simpson on Sunday morning.
Students and professors at Simpson have called to support Robello since his injury.
"With all the support I've had I knew I was going to be all right," Robello said. "Seeing all of this flourish into a light inside of darkness has been a positive thing."
Franklin believes Robello can return to the court this season once he is cleared by team doctors and trainers.
"We'll take it slow, but it'll be important for him to get back out on the court once he is cleared," Franklin said. "As an athlete, you have to get back on that horse."
Robello is already making plans to return to the basketball court once he passes concussion protocol. Simpson sits in sixth place − the last remaining spot in the Cal Pac Conference playoffs.
Simpson forfeited last Saturday's game after Robello's injury. Franklin told referees he wanted the game to end but said his decision was made based on a "split second" reaction.
"I don't agree with the ruling, but I respect (Cal Pac Conference) commissioner Don Ott's decision," Franklin said. "When the officials came to me, I had three players on the floor weeping. When Kevin was laying in my arms at one moment, I thought we had lost him."
Simpson (12-12, 8-8 Cal Pac) ends the year with three road games in Lancaster, Riverside and Merced.
Robello said he'll be ready to play once he clears concussion protocol.
"I'm excited, there's no nerves at all," Robello said. "I know family members have said this is the last time I'm playing basketball but no. I'm ready to go. When the time comes, I'll be there."
Ethan Hanson started working for the Redding Record Searchlight after four years with the Los Angeles Daily News as a freelancer. His coverage includes working the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament in South Bend, Indiana, and writing about the St. Louis Rams' move to Los Angeles with the Ventura County Star. He began his career as a play-by-play broadcaster for LA Pierce College from 2011-2017. Follow him on Twitter at @EthanAHanson_RS.
This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Simpson University men's basketball rallies behind injured point guard
