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Myron Medcalf, ESPN Staff Writer
USC freshman guard Bronny James, the son of Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James, is expected to return to the court “in the very near future” after suffering cardiac arrest during a workout in July, the James family said in a statement Friday.
The likely cause of Bronny James’ cardiac arrest was a congenital heart defect, which was identified after an initial evaluation at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and follow-up evaluations at the Mayo Clinic, according to the family statement.
“It is an anatomically and functionally significant Congenital Heart Defect which can and will be treated,” the James family said in their statement. “We are very confident in Bronny’s full recovery and return to basketball in the very near future. We will continue to provide updates to media and respectfully reiterate the family’s request for privacy.”
James’ cardiac arrest happened nearly a year to the day after Trojans center Vincent Iwuchukwu collapsed during a workout because of a heart ailment last summer.
James, who arrived at USC in May as a five-star prospect, was projected to be a first-round pick in next summer’s NBA draft and possibly play with his father at the next level.
The Trojans are expected to compete for a Pac-12 title and a spot in the NCAA tournament. Along with the arrival of James, USC returns veteran Boogie Ellis and added Isaiah Collier, who was ESPN’s No. 1 recruit in the 2023 class.