By JOE REEDY AP Sports activities Author
LOS ANGELES — Bronny James, the 18-year-old son of Lakers star LeBron James, is doing properly and attending courses after the extremely regarded freshman guard went into cardiac arrest throughout an on-campus exercise final month, USC basketball coach Andy Enfield stated Monday.
“The great factor is he’s doing extraordinarily properly and he’s in school proper now. And all of us love him,” Enfield stated. “I feel everyone is hopeful that Bronny will return to the courtroom. We simply need to be affected person and take it step-by-step.”
The James household launched an announcement Friday saying a congenital coronary heart defect was the possible reason behind James’ cardiac arrest. The assertion stated the center defect might be handled and that the household is assured in James’ capability to make a full restoration and return to the courtroom within the close to future.
James, who starred at Sierra Canyon Excessive, was hospitalized at Cedars-Sinai Medical Heart and launched three days after being stricken on July 24.
“Our purpose is to assist Bronny in any means we are able to academically, athletically, and be affected person with how issues develop in his return,” Enfield stated.
James, a 6-foot-3 guard, dedicated to USC in Could and bolstered what was already one of many nation’s high recruiting courses. He’s the sixth McDonald’s All-American to hitch this system since Enfield turned coach in 2013.
The Trojans had the nation’s fourth-ranked recruiting class, together with the top-rated participant in guard Isaiah Collier.
Enfield stated the pitch to James and his household wasn’t totally different in comparison with different recruits.
“He’s a terrific basketball participant and was enjoying very properly (earlier than the cardiac arrest). All of us assume there’s a huge upside in his recreation and he might help our crew win,” Enfield stated. “It was just a little later within the recruiting cycle and likewise was totally different as a result of he comes from a reasonably good basketball household. But it surely actually didn’t change our recruiting pitch as a result of we’re very trustworthy with individuals and confirmed him a possibility that we thought he might have right here at USC. His mother and father had been terrific by means of the entire recruiting course of and have been very supportive since.”
Enfield additionally stated he was happy along with his crew’s improvement throughout a current journey to Europe that noticed his squad play video games in Greece and Croatia.
Fifth-year senior guard Boogie Ellis has embraced the function of being a crew co-captain whereas Collier and ahead DJ Rodman, a graduate switch from Washington State, obtained to mesh with new teammates in recreation conditions.
Enfield stated Collier is likely one of the greatest passers he has seen come out of highschool shortly whereas Rodman generally is a risk along with his expertise on offense.
The participant who made the largest strides on the journey was junior guard Kobe Johnson, a co-captain who averaged 9.3 factors final season.
“He’s one of the best defensive participant in our league and likewise improved his offense,” Enfield stated.
USC – which has made the final three NCAA Tournaments – can have a difficult nonconference schedule earlier than beginning its closing season within the Pac-12. The Trojans open in opposition to Kansas State in Las Vegas on Nov. 6 and can play in a Thanksgiving week match in San Diego that features Seton Corridor, Iowa and Oklahoma. USC additionally has a highway recreation in opposition to Auburn.
