Accident Leaves Rogers Paralyzed

   Former NBA basketball star is in a rehabilitation facility in Atlanta after being injured in an all-terrain vehicle accident on November 28, 2008.

   Rogers, a former Hillside High and Wake Forest All-American who went on to play 12 seasons in the NBA, reportedly was paralyzed from the neck down after falling off the vehicle during a ride in the woods in Vance County.

   Rogers, 37, originally was treated at Duke Hospital before being moved to the Shepherd Center, which specializes in rehabilitation for those with spinal cord injuries.

   “I’ve seen him every day since the accident,” said Durham attorney James “Butch” Williams, who is Roger’s agent. “He’s not crying about this. He’s doing as well as anyone could expect.”

   The 1993 ACC Player of the Year, Rogers averaged 19.3 points and 7.9 rebounds in his four seasons at Wake Forest where his jersey is retired.

   “He was absolutely one of the finest people I have ever coached, and he was very special to our program,” said Dave Odom, who coached Rogers at Wake Forest. “When he came to us, it sent a message that Wake Forest was going to compete for the championship, and I think because he came to us other great players followed.”

   The hulking 6-7 Rogers was a first-round pick of the Denver Nuggets, ninth overall, in the 1993 NBA Draft. He played for seven teams, including Los Angeles Clippers, Phoenix Suns, Boston Celtics, New Jersey Nets, New Orleans Hornets, and Philadelphia 76ers.

   He reached the NBA Finals with the Nets in 2002-03, and the Eastern Conference Finals with Boston in 2001-02

   Rogers has been volunteering as a girls’ basketball coach and had set up a computer lad in the McDougald Terrace housing project where he grew up. He donated the computers to the lab. He had also been involved in the “Hardee’s Rise & Shine Reading Challenge,” in which he donated a computer to be awarded to the winner.

    North Carolina Central University is dedicating a home men’s basketball game to Rodney Rogers. The Eagles will donate part of the proceeds from their December 18 game against Winston Salem State University to Rogers.

    “Rodney has been an ambassador for the Durham community and a supporter of NCCU Athletics, “  NCCU athletics director Ingrid Wicker-McCree said. “ He grew up on the campus as a young boy and always kept NCCU in his heart. This is one way to show our gratitude and support of Rodney and to raise awareness of spinal cord injuries, rehabilitation and research.”

     In honor of Rogers, who wore 54, NCCU will donate 5.4 percent of the ticket sales from the game to the Shepard Center.

    The Hillside High cheerleaders, the Hillside alumni band, and the Southern High band also are partners in the event, which tips off at 7:30 p.m.

This article is from The Herald-Sun| Durham, North Carolina by Mike Potter.