We barely got to know him, but what we did know is
that in
Emmanuel Negedu’s chest beats the heart of a lion! Strike that, a Lobo!
The Ferocious Emmanuel Negedu
It was made official today that Lobo forward
Emmanuel
Negedu’s athletic career has ended do to previous complications with
Negedu’s
heart.
Negedu transferred to the University of New Mexico
last
season after being released by Tennessee for the same heart
complications when
his heart had stopped beating. The Tennessee training staff had to use
a defibrillator
on Negedu and subsequently had an ICD device implanted in his heart.
Like we
said though Negedu has the heart of a lion so he wanted to pursue his
basketball career.
After gaining a release from Tenn. Negedu set out
to find
another school and first tried to get in at Indiana University. While
cleared
by doctors the administrative staff chose not to clear Negedu and in
stepped in
Steve Alford and New Mexico.
After many test by UNM’s doctors Negedu was given
the
clearance to play by doctor’s and UNM administration and Negedu did not
disappoint
early in the season as he averaged 4.7 points and 5.4 rebounds per
games in
which he averaged 14.4 minutes.
On December 19th Negedu during halftime
of a game
vs. Citadel Negedu was forced to stop playing “after a bad reading from
his
internal cardiac defibrillator,” says the press release from UNM.
Negedu never
returned to the court after the 19th.
TheRedMenace.com had the privilege to
interview Negedu last
year after he chose to play at UNM and I as well as most Lobo fans were
so
excited to have this passionate young man play for UNM as not only is
E-man a
great player, but an outstanding young man with a bright future ahead
of him.
The Red Menace would like to thank Emmanuel
for all his time
and sacrifice and we wish him well as he continues his education at UNM.
Here is the official release from the
University of New
Mexico:
Emmanuel Negedu
Receives Medical Disqualification
Waiver
Will remain on scholarship but not count against men ’s
basketball’s allotment
of 13
Albuquerque,
N.M. --- Emmanuel Negedu of the Lobo men’s basketball team has
officially been granted a Medical Disqualification Waiver by the NCAA,
allowing
him to continue his education on scholarship with the University of New
Mexico,
but not counting against the basketball team’s limit of 13
scholarships. *The
decision effectively ends his athletic career at the university, but he
will
remain a member of the team, although he will not participate nor
practice.
Negedu played in 10 games for the Lobos this season, averaging 4.7
points and
5.4 rebounds per game and playing 14.4 minutes per contest. *He led the
Lobos
in rebounding three times in the first nine games of the season,
including 10
in a 78-62 win over New Mexico State at The Pit. *He was shutdown at
halftime
of the Citadel game on December 19 after a bad reading from his
internal
cardiac defibrillator.
“The most important thing about the situation is Emmanuel’s health,”
said head
coach Steve Alford. *“It’s unfortunate that due to health concerns he
will no
longer be able to participate. However, Emmanuel will continue to be a
vital
member of Lobo basketball on a daily basis. He will remain on
scholarship and
work hard towards attaining his degree as well as continue to get the
medical
care he needs.”
Alford added, “Emmanuel and I both very much appreciate all the efforts
of the
UNM medical staff that continues to ensure his good health.”
The NCAA allows for a medical disqualification waiver, also known as a
medical
non-counter waiver, for a student-athlete who is advised to not
continue
participation in collegiate athletics by a physician. Under a medical
disqualification waiver, a student-athlete maintains his or her
grant-in-aid
for the remainder of their four or five year academic experience, but
the
student-athlete does not count against a sports allotment of
scholarships.
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photos courtesy of Gary Stepic