National Basketball Association

Isaiah Austin, diagnosed with heart disorder, cleared by doctors to play basketball again

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

foxsports

Former Baylor star Isaiah Austin has been cleared to play basketball again following his Marfan’s Syndrome diagnosis.

Austin was diagnosed with the rare connective tissue disorder as well as an abnormally large heart ahead of the 2014 NBA draft, which appeared to end his playing career prematurely. After an ongoing series of tests since then, he announced he has received clearance to return to competitive basketball.

The 23-year-old, 7'1" big man from Texas has also been blind in his right eye since he was 16 due to a retina injury, leading him to wear protective glasses on the floor. He was considered a likely draft pick in 2014 and was a McDonald’s All-American coming out of high school.

Austin averaged 11.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 3.1 blocks in his final college season at Baylor, as a sophomore.

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