the deaths of Gathers and Lewis, they were seeking fresh scientific evidence that McClure could safely continue to play.
They found it at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.
An HCM specialist said McClure could play again, as long as he had a device implanted into his chest to protect his heart. It’s called an implantable cardioverter defibrillator, or ICD. If the machine detects an abnormal rhythm, it can shock it back into a safe range. While ICDs are commonly used to treat various heart problems, it’s less common among those competing in high-level sports.
McClure got the ICD. On the first day of practice in 2016, he ran onto the court alongside his teammates, accompanied by a wave of gratitude.
Living life to the fullest
“Basketball was taken away from me,” he says. “And after that, I wanted to give it my all every time I stepped onto the court because I knew just how terrible it felt to not have basketball in my life.”
He also felt grateful that his condition had been caught before it announced its presence. In the cases of Gathers and Lewis, their diagnosis came via autopsy. McClure credits Baylor’s screening tests for potentially saving his life.
McClure went on to play 129 games at Baylor, starting nearly half of them. He’s still connected to basketball as an analyst with ESPN.
He began sharing his story upon returning for his sophomore season. Doing so made a difference in the lives of other basketball players diagnosed with heart problems.
Before a game in Iowa, a family showed up at the hotel where the team was staying to meet McClure. Their daughter had a similar condition – and when she was diagnosed, they feared for her life, and her future in sports. McClure’s story gave them hope and