BRADENTON, Fla. — Fifty posters with Jack Kelley's name are lining the halls of Lakewood Ranch High School. T-shirts have been made in his honor.
- Jack Kelly was critically injuried in February crash
- Wednesday All-Star basketball game will help with his medical bills
- Game will be at Lakewood Ranch High
- More Manatee County headlines
Jack graduated from Lakewood Ranch High in 2018. He wasn't just a star on the varsity basketball team but a leader and friend.
He helped lead the team to three straight district championships and came through last year when one of the top scoring players was out with an injury during a crucial game.
"Jack had the flu and scored like 24 points and had 12 rebounds to kind of lead our charge," said head coach Jeremy Schiller.
On Wednesday night, his teammates will be playing for him.
The best players from Manatee and Sarasota counties will be facing off during an All-Star Basketball Game. All proceeds from ticket sales will be going to Jack's medical expenses.
The 19-year-old was critically injured in February during a rollover hit-and-run crash on U.S. 41 in Sarasota. He spent five weeks in the hospital and was released Tuesday. He's now in Atlanta at a rehab facility for people with traumatic brain injuries. His father, Mike Kelley, says his recovery has been nothing short of a miracle.
"We can't be there for him at the hospital of course, because not all of us can be in there, but at the game it'll be like were almost there for him," said Keon Buckey, a junior on the varsity basketball team.
The game will be held April 3 at Lakewood Ranch High. The girls game starts at 6 p.m. following by the boys game at 7:30 p.m.