Basketball

USC five-star center Vince Iwuchukwu suffered cardiac arrest in July

The Trojans’ star big man has been ruled out indefinitely as official practice gets underway.

A basketball is on a hardwood basketball court.

Freshman center Vince Iwuchukwu says the status on his recovery is "positive" following his collapse from cardiac arrest at an informal practice in July.

By Samuel Reno

USC men’s basketball freshman center Vince Iwuchukwu suffered from a cardiac arrest and collapsed during an informal team practice on July 1, he said to CBS Sports Thursday.

Iwuchukwu went to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and was hospitalized for multiple days following the incident.

“This past summer,” Iwuckukwu said in a statement to CBS Sports, “I had a sudden cardiac arrest during a workout. Since the event, I have received optimal care from the university and my personal expert medical team.”

Iwuchukwu was a five-star recruit in the class of 2022 out of Southern California Academy. Standing at 7-foot-1, the big man headlines a USC class that ranks No. 7 nationally and best in the Pac-12, according to 247 Sports.

USC has held the freshman center out of all basketball activities since, and, as of now, there is no timetable for Iwuchukwu’s return as the Trojans officially began practice earlier this week.

“Currently, I am adhering to the standard protocol designed to ensure my health and safety,” Iwuchukwu said. “I’m feeling great and my recovery and rehabilitation remain positive.”