Baylor forward Isaiah Austin went through a usual round of workouts as he prepped for the 2014 NBA Draft but his dream of becoming a professional basketball player won't come to fruition. Austin, through his school, announced that he has been diagnosed with Marfan syndrome and his basketball career is over.
Isaiah Austin’s career is over after diagnosis of Marfan syndrome
Former Baylor Bears forward Isaiah Austin announced the end of his basketball career in the midst of his NBA Draft preparation.
Jeff Gross
Life beyond basketball
“This is devastating news, but Isaiah has the best support system anyone could ask for, and he knows that all of Baylor Nation is behind him,” head coach Scott Drew said. “His health is the most important thing, and while it’s extremely sad that he won’t be able to play in the NBA, our hope is that he’ll return to Baylor to complete his degree and serve as a coach in our program.”
Marfan syndrome is often hard to identity but during the pre-draft process was identified in Austin through genetic testing. While its symptoms vary from person to person, how it affects the connective tissues in the body can lead to varying degrees of health issues, including severe ones such as aortic enlargement, which could be life-threatening for a professional athlete.
Austin also released a statement through the Baylor basketball Twitter account:
"I'm sorry (my supporters) couldn't see me play in the NBA. But it's not the end, it's only the beginning." - @IsaiahAustin
— Baylor Basketball (@BaylorMBB) June 22, 2014 Austin was projected to be a late first-round or early second-round draft pick. The 7’1 big man averaged 12.1 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.4 blocks during his sophomore year for Baylor in 2013-14.
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