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The USC medical staff is being commended by college basketball fans for its handling of the Bronny James collapse on the court Monday. The star signee reportedly suffered a cardiac arrest while practicing.
James was rushed to the hospital, spending time in the intensive care unit though he’s now in stable condition. The incident was the second in as many years to occur at a Trojans’ basketball workout.
Just last offseason, incoming freshman Vince Iwuchukwu suffered a similar heart failure and collapsed in July. The five-star prospect was sidelined through January.
Iwuchukwu returned to the court for PAC-12 play, notching a pair of double-digit performances in USC’s 22-win season. Fans are hoping for a similar recovery for Bronny James.
Bronny, too, is a five-star recruit and the son of NBA superstar LeBron James. Part of the Trojans’ fourth-ranked freshman class, they’re hoping to get him on the court when healthy.
That return is only possible thanks to the quick acting USC medical staff. Many are commending the unit online following Bronny James’s scary fall.
Thank God for the USC medical staff🙏
— Bench Warmer Banter (@bwb_sports) July 25, 2023
It’s a situation USC is growing much too familiar with, but fans and media took the moment to recognize their potentially lifesaving efforts in back-to-back offseasons.
Incredibly scary. The USC staff deserves a ton of credit and should be recognized nationally. They saved a 2nd young life after Vincent Iwuchukwu last summer. https://t.co/1VC5I3e2CP
— Jordan Sensi (@JordanSensi) July 25, 2023
“Credit to the USC medical staff and coaches for keeping both players safe,” Aaron Torres wrote.
Incredibly, sadly, this is the second USC basketball player to collapse in practice in the last year, after it happened to Vince Iwuchukwu last summer. Credit to the USC medical staff and coaches for keeping both players safe 🙏🙏 https://t.co/n2FpEcpIxY
— Aaron Torres (@Aaron_Torres) July 25, 2023
“It underscores the need to have proper equipment and people who know how to use it,” basketball writer Seth Davis said.
It also underscores the need to have proper equipment and people who know how to use it in every athletic setting and even in a lot of non athletic ones like office buildings. Thank God the USC medical staff was on hand. 🙏 https://t.co/BuTTor8zxB
— Seth Davis (@SethDavisHoops) July 25, 2023
Hopefully Bronny James makes a full recovery from the collapse and returns to the court in the 2023-24 season.