LOS ANGELES — As USC’s players walked around the perimeter of the Galen Center court, shaking hands with fans following a win over Colorado, everyone wanted a little extra time with a player who had not recorded a single stat.
People stopped Vincent Iwuchukwu, the 7-foot-1 freshman who had just made his collegiate debut six months after suffering cardiac arrest at practice. They offered words of encouragement, and Iwuchukwu nodded politely, said thank you, even picked up a couple of babies like a political candidate.
But Iwuchukwu was waiting to get to the end of the procession. His parents, Anastecia and Vincent Sr., waited with four of his five sisters. When Iwuchukwu arrived, the family embraced.
“Having my mom and dad there and having my sisters there was everything,” Iwuchukwu said. “They are my rock.”
“That hug was a moment for us,” Vincent Sr. added. “We all told him, ‘We told you it was going to happen one day.’ We thank God for everything. It was a moment.”
The day of
A collective memory can be a tricky thing to get straight. Especially after a traumatic situation, when adrenaline spikes and details begin to blur together. But these are the generally accepted facts of July 1.
It was a summer workout. The team had lifted weights in the morning, and in the afternoon was going through an hourlong practice. As the team concluded its second period of action, assistant coach Eric Mobley noticed something different about Iwuchukwu.
The 19-year-old freshman had been having a good practice. But his energy was starting to lag, and when he caught a rebound, the slap of hand against leather didn’t come with its usual pop. So as the team paused for a water break, Mobley suggested that head coach Andy Enfield check on Iwuchukwu.
“I was like, ‘I know he’s tired but there was something in the eyes,’” Mobley said. “I just watched him the whole time.”
Enfield dribbled a ball while speaking to Iwuchukwu, who was seated with a cup…
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