When Vince Iwuchuku suffered cardiac arrest over the summer, it seemed that he might never be able to play the game of basketball again.
Yet, somehow, against all odds, he worked hard and was able to make his USC debut on January 12 against the Colorado Buffaloes.
In a video released by USC Athletics, Iwuchukwu detailed his much-anticipated debut at the Galen Center:
“The walk from the bench to the scorer’s table felt like an eternity,” he said in the video. “When I got into the game, going over to the free throw line felt like it was forever. But as soon as the ball was played, everything felt fast.”
His family was in attendance, and it was an emotional night for everybody involved after he defied the odds.
“After that game, it felt like part of my journey was complete. It was a long seven months, it was like a checkpoint,” he said. “It was celebratory for me to be on that court … It was a joy having my family here. It was the best moment of the year … That was something I’m never going to forget.”
He played just five minutes against Colorado, but it was a massive step in the right direction. Not even 10 days later, he played 14 minutes and scored 12 points against Arizona State.
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