Keeping the Dream Alive

“Basketball has been life-changing for me,” says Davin Cosby. “Coming from where I was, you don’t always see a lot of options ahead of you. Basketball brought so many connections to my life, so many opportunities I wouldn’t have had otherwise.”

For one, it took him to college. The Richmond, Virginia, native began his collegiate career at the University of Alabama before transferring to Wake Forest and, eventually, to Kennesaw State. There, he was reunited with the coach who’d originally recruited him to Alabama. Davin was to be a key part of Kennesaw State’s team in 2025-2026. 

On July 13, 2025, however, he was in a car wreck that resulted in serious injuries, including a C-6 spinal cord injury (SCI). He was transported to Northeast Georgia Medical Center, where the skilled staff performed two major surgeries and stabilized his condition. Like many who have sustained spinal cord injuries, Davin faced challenges. He lost 50 pounds and had diminished mobility in his lower body. He recalls days he could barely sit up, much less stand or walk. He was also struggling with his blood pressure.

“Literally the day before I transferred to Shepherd Center for inpatient rehab, that day with my BP had been one of my worst days post-in-jury,” Davin recalls. “Then, like two days later, I was walking with assistance at Shepherd Center ... that was a moment of, ‘Oh, things are going to get better.’”

Davin says he most appreciated that his care team recognized what was most important to him — and what he was willing to do to get better.

“They knew I was an athlete and I could take the hard work,” Davin says. “They also knew that I wanted to get out of the chair as quick as possible. Basketball was the goal. So, they built all that into the rehab.”

His physical therapists took him down to the gym and had him start dribbling basketballs to rebuild skill-specific muscle memory — even when his dominant right hand was barely responding. They threw chest passes, simulated drills, and put Davin on the treadmill. The hoops didn’t end there. Nikki Kiley, CTRS, was Davin’s lead recreation therapist; she filled his rec therapy time with even more basketball-inspired fun on Shepherd Center’s court.

“They were so joyful and positive, even on the hard days,” Davin says. “Always laughter, always jokes. They made it fun and really brought the joyfulness back into my system.”

On Aug. 27, with some help from his Shepherd care team, Davin returned to Kennesaw State’s campus for the first time since his injury. And he did so in style — surprising his teammates by walking, on his own, into the gym during team practice. It was an emotional moment for all, and another joyful step in Davin’s journey. Today, Davin continues to work on a return to basketball.

He’s back to his old playing weight, running, jumping, and working out with his teammates. Now, it’s a matter of retraining his body for basketball, regaining his explosiveness, and getting his right hand into shooting form again. For that, Davin’s back at Shepherd Center, training in Beyond Therapy®, which incorporates cutting-edge neuroplasticity research into physical therapy that can rebuild strength and restore function. Along the way, Davin’s storing away everything he’s learning about the game, about the resilience it requires, and the lessons he’s learning. Because he sees a possible pipeline to coaching in his future, too.

“Using all my experiences to be a coach, to be a mentor, that would be a joy, too,” Davin says. “Basketball has always been a therapy thing for me, my little get-away. I want to share that joy with others and help them make the most of the game for themselves."

Written by Phillip Jordan