NASHVILLE - It is with a great sense of loss that we share the news one of our own passed away this week. Trevecca Nazarene University men's basketball alum Josh Helton passed away Monday, June 24, 2024 while on holiday in Miramar Beach, Florida.

 

The university and athletic department offer our deepest condolences to the friends and family of Josh Helton.

 

The Celebration of Life Service is scheduled for Saturday, July 13, 2024 from 5:00 PM in the chapel of Sellars Funeral Home in Mt. Juliet. The family will receive friends on Friday, July 12, 2024 from 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM and on Saturday, July 13, 2024 from 2:00 PM until the service time at 5:00 PM. Arrangements / Obituary

 

Trevecca athletic director Mark Elliott, whose son Matthew played alongside Helton, said of Helton's passing, "Our athletic community is heartbroken for the family of Josh Helton. He was such a tenacious, passionate player and his teammates loved playing with him." 

 

"There is so much to remember about Josh, but one thing I will always remember is the special play coach Harris designed for him called, Through Josh. The play was almost impossible to guard."

 

Helton, age 38, arrived at Trevecca in fall 2004 following an outstanding run as a Mt. Juliet (TN) High School Bear.

 

Sam Harris, who coached Josh Helton all four years of his college career, said of Helton, "Josh Helton was a complete team player. He is one of the best players to ever play at Trevecca. He was always more interested in the success of the team before any individual awards. A complete player who could score at all three levels and a consistent big game player. Josh was a core player during his years of four very talented Trevecca teams."

"During Josh's time at Trevecca, he will always be remembered as someone with a great heart and a good person, that just happened to be a great basketball player."

 

He started fast, making the TranSouth Athletic Conference All-Freshman team. He was a key member of a run to the NAIA National Championships and the Sweet 16.

 

As a sophomore, he improved in every measurable category and helped the team to a second consecutive NAIA National Championships Sweet 16. In the TranSouth Championship, he just missed a triple-double.

 

In his junior season, he reached a new career high with a 31-point game and scored 20 or more points five times. He improved his numbers again in nearly every category.

 

During his senior year, the team reached the NAIA National Championships and the Sweet 16 again. He averaged 16.2 points per game and had his third consecutive season with a three-point percentage above 40%. He matched his career-high with a 31-point game and then broke that with a 34-point game.

 

Helton is still the all-time leader in made three-pointers with 304. He scored 1,618 career points, averaging 13.3 per game, and hit 40.1% of his three-point attempts.

 

At Mt. Juliet High School, Helton scored 1,394 career points and averaged 18.6 points, 4.6 assists, 5.3 rebounds, and 3.6 steals a game during his senior season. He earned all-region honors as a junior and senior while picking up all-district and all-district tournament team honors all four years.

 

Helton continued a line of former Mt. Juliet Bears playing their college basketball on the Hill at Trevecca: Tim Bell, David Blanford, Gary Van Atta, and Darryl Keckler are just some of the former Bears who wore the Purple and White.

 

JOSH HELTON | TREVECCA CAREER  | MEN'S BASKETBALL | 2004-2008  

Mt. Juliet, Tenn. ¦ Mt. Juliet HS ¦ 6-1 ¦ Wing

 

CAREER NOTES | RANKINGS AT END OF CAREER | RECORDS

#5 Three-point percentage (40.1%)

#6 Assists (399)  

#6 Scoring (1618)   

#7 Steals (203)

Trevecca Record: Made three-point field goals (304). 

 

CAREER HONORS AND AWARDS

NAIA All-Tournament: First Team

NAIA All-American: Honorable Mention

All-TranSouth First Team (2008, 2007)

All-TranSouth Second Team (2006)

TranSouth All-Freshman Team (2005)
TranSouth Player of the Week: (1/15/06, 1/23/06, 11/11/07, 12/2/07, 12/24/08)   

 

Trevecca During Helton's Career

93-41 Overall, 41-19 TranSouth

Trevecca made three of its five NAIA National Championships appearances during Helton's career. 

Reaching the NAIA Sweet 16 all three of those trips. 

 

Senior Year 2007-2008

Team: 25-10 overall, 14-6 TSAC (3-2 - Reached NAIA Sweet 16)

Scored a season high 31 against Michigan Dearborn on Dec. 22 equaling his career high, but topped that with a new career high 34 against Crichton College on Jan. 7. 

Scored 20+ points nine times.

Hit six three pointers in four different games. 

Had one double-double, points and assists. 

Junior Year 2006-2007

Team: 17-14 overall, 10-8 TSAC (0-1)
Had a season-high 31, a new career-high, points against Lambuth on Jan. 20.

Scored 20+ points in five games. 

Hit six three-point baskets in two games. 

Had one double-double, points and rebounds.

Sophomore Year 2005-2006  

Team: 26-7 overall, 9-3 TSAC (2-2 – Reached NAIA Sweet 16)
Had five games with 20+ points.

Scored a season-high 24 in the opener against Michigan Dearborn.

Hit season-high five three-pointers in three games, three in a row. Went 15-25 from three in that three-game stretch. 

Had a double-double with 10 points, 11 assists against Union in the TranSouth championship game, just missed a triple-double with eight rebounds. 

 
Freshman Year 2004-2005

Team: 25-8 overall, 8-2 TSAC (1-2 – Reached NAIA Sweet 16)
Score 20+ points in three games. 

Scored a season-high 23 points twice, against Shorter and again versus Tennessee Temple. 

Hit a season-high five three pointers in five games. 

 

Year	GP	FGM	FGA	3PM	3PA	FTM	FTA	OFF	DEF	REB	AST	STL	BLK	PTS
2004-05	33	89	238	64	183	45	55	9	55	64	70	41	2	287
2005-06	32	138	312	77	185	65	77	8	101	109	123	55	4	418
2006-07	23	128	285	66	162	39	45	13	79	92	82	44	0	361
2007-08	34	195	404	97	228	65	89	13	108	121	124	63	1	552
Total	122	550	1239	304	758	214	266	43	343	386	399	203	7	1618

 

Year	GP	FG%	3P%	FT%	OFF	DEF	REB	AST	STL	BLK	PTS
2004-05	33	37.4	35.0	81.8	0.3	1.7	1.9	2.1	1.2	0.1	8.7
2005-06	32	44.2	41.6	84.4	0.3	3.2	3.4	3.8	1.7	0.1	13.1
2006-07	23	44.9	40.7	86.7	0.6	3.4	4.0	3.6	1.9	0.0	15.7
2007-08	34	48.3	42.5	73.0	0.4	3.2	3.6	3.6	1.9	0.0	16.2
Total	122	44.4	40.1	80.5	0.4	2.8	3.2	3.3	1.7	0.1	13.3

 

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