Bronny James' promising basketball career in doubt after suffering cardiac arrest at training
Bronny James, the son of basketball superstar LeBron James, suffered a cardiac arrest while training at the University of Southern California.
Bronny was briefly unconscious after he suffered cardiac arrest, and the speed at which the USC medical staff acted is reportedly the reason he is still alive, according to AP.
The 18-year-old was preparing for a 10-day exhibition tour in Greece and Croatia when his heart suddenly stopped beating.
James was rushed to the hospital at 9:26 am and has since been released from the intensive care unit due to the stability of his condition.
It's the second time in a year that a player's heart has stopped beating at USC, with teammate Vince Iwuchukwu's heart-stopping in July last year.
LeBron James still aspires to play with Bronny before his retirement, but the important thing, for now, is that he recovers from this scary situation.
According to the dailymail.co.uk, a source close to the James family said: 'If Bronny isn't able to ever play basketball again, so be it, but those decisions are a long way away."
After a slow start to his basketball career, being seen as just a solid three-point shooter, Bronny James has blossomed into one of the highest recruits in the country.
Bronny averaged 14 points, six rebounds, and three assists in his senior year with Sierra Canyon, showing his elite scoring ability and basketball IQ.
With his impressive performances in his final year at High School, Bronny had offers from multiple Division One schools, choosing USC a few months ago.
His year was capped off after being selected as an illustrious All-American, a game between the best high school prospects in the country, following his dad's footsteps, who played in it in 2003.
However, his NBA prospects are now in jeopardy with the recent news of his cardiac arrest.
Although we don't know what caused his heart to stop, Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is the most common issue that causes young athletes' hearts to stop.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is the condition that causes the heart to grow too thick, making it hard for the heart to pump blood and cause fast heartbeats.
According to mayoclinic.org, it is estimated that around one in 80,000 young athletes suffer from a freak cardiac arrest, with only around 150 athletes in the USA having one in the last year, according to ESPN.
According to Dr. Brian Sutterer, Bronny James' career could be over, but medical experts have said his quick release from ICU is a good indicator that he will make a full recovery.