The return

It began slowly. First the stationary bikes and lifting weights. He stalled there for an interminable length of time. Then after Thanksgiving, Iwuchukwu could dribble again and shoot. In mid-December, he was dunking, running the court, practicing five-on-air.

During Christmas break, Iwuchukwu was allowed to do full contact.

“That part was something else,” he laughed. “I felt like an old man. I couldn’t move.”

Then on Jan. 5, Vincent Sr. received a call from Enfield and Yonamine. Iwuchukwu had been cleared to play in his first game, albeit on a minutes restriction.

So again, Vincent Sr. and Anastecia had to schedule a flight to Los Angeles, under much happier circumstances. They were in the front row by the USC bench when Enfield paused in front of Iwuchukwu before spinning around and tapping the freshman on the shoulder, telling him not to forget his assignments.

“He definitely made sure that I had my head in the game. But honestly, my head was not in the game,” Iwuchukwu said. “I was like, ‘Oh my God, I’m playing again.’ It was so fun to be out there again.”

“It was very, very emotional. Especially when he was going through his rehab and it was hard to think about coming back or stuff like that,” Vincent Sr. added. “But seeing him doing what he was doing, it was a great moment for us.”

Iwuchukwu was clearly rusty in that first game, but is starting to round into shape. He played a career-high 26 minutes Saturday against Oregon State, and also set career marks with 19 points and seven rebounds.

“Just to see him running up and down, being crazy, being Vince, that’s what he’s here for and it’s just crazy to see full circle,” White said. “But I’m always watching him now, the whole team always just making sure he’s ok. Off the court, too, because that’s a traumatic experience.”

Iwuchukwu understands that, and USC is still taking precautions. A trainer is present when Iwuchukwu gets in extra work with Mobley during the mornings and between classes. He wears a device under his jersey to monitor his heart rate, which Shultz tracks at the scorer’s table during games.

But Iwuchukwu is still pressing forward, his goals of reaching the NBA still in mind after nearly having them taken away by chance.

“There’s what-ifs in everything that we do. Whatifs are what stops people from progressing,” Iwuchukwu said. “But once I touched the ball and actually started just playing basketball and not thinking about the outside things, I told myself it was fine.

“Fear is the biggest obstacle to jump in this whole path. I think I’ve done a pretty good job and I’ve had good guidance.”