Kentucky basketball players visit Harlan County basketball player injured in fireworks accident

In case you need a reminder that fireworks are dangerous, here’s one from Eastern Kentucky with a name you might recognize.

Reggie Cottrell, a rising junior who was one of the stars of Harlan County’s Sweet 16 run, injured his hand yesterday at a Fourth of July party. According to his sister Lexie on Facebook, Cottrell was trying to light a firework when it suddenly exploded. He was flown to UK Hospital in Lexington, where surgeons amputated his index finger and parts of his middle and index fingers. They also inserted a metal wire into his thumb, which was broken.

“I am grateful for everyone’s love and prayers following my accident on Thursday,” Cottrell said in a statement from Harlan County Public Schools. “I underwent surgery Thursday evening and am recovering in the hospital. I am overwhelmed by the outpouring of support for me and my family from Harlan County, the 13th Region and the entire state of Kentucky. Please continue to pray for me as I recover. I look forward to returning home to Harlan County soon and am grateful for everyone’s love and support. Thank you!”

Lexie said her brother did not act irresponsibly and that the firework’s wick was not even lit when it exploded.

“He wasn’t fooling around and lighting fireworks silly. He just got his hands on a bad firework. He tried to light the firework but the wick didn’t even light, the firework just exploded. This happens every day in many places and it just happened to him so please have an adult nearby when lighting fireworks because you never know what will happen.”

In her first post after the accident, Lexie joked that her brother was more concerned about his hair than his fingers. Cottrell’s locks became famous during the Black Bears’ run to the last 16. Despite the injury, Lexie said her brother was determined to find his way back to the court.

“I just want to say, no matter what happens, we know our boy will be out there on the field! It may be tough and arduous, but Reggie Cottrell is a fighter! He won’t give up.”

“I asked him if he still played ball and he said, ‘I’m Reggie Cottrell,'” she added this morning.

Of course, one of Cottrell’s teammates on that Harlan County team was Noah, Trentnow a freshman in Kentucky. Noah took his new teammates with him Travis Perry, Lamont Butler, Kerr Kriisa, Ansley AlmonorAnd Andrew Carr to see Cottrell in the hospital and share this picture on his Instagram story:

Get well soon, Reggie. Take care, everyone.