Pearl: No decision yet on Negedu's playing future

Sep 30, 2009 - 8:55 PM By BETH RUCKER Associated Press Writer

KNOXVILLE, Tenn.(AP) -- Tennessee forward Emmanuel Negedu's doctors and guardians were reviewing medical tests to make decisions about his playing future, coach Bruce Pearl said Wednesday.

Negedu was revived by members of the Volunteers' training staff after a post-workout collapse at the Tennessee training facilities on Monday. Tennessee staff have not confirmed reports that the 20-year-old did not have a pulse after collapsing.

Pearl said doctors are reviewing whether the 6-foot-7, 218-pound sophomore from Kaduna, Nigeria, has hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a condition blamed for the sudden death of more than a hundred athletes each year.

Negedu was expected to remain at the University of Tennessee Medical Center for a third night, the coach said.

"I would ask that folks continue to pray for him as he is in no immediate cause for concern right now in the hospital, but obviously decisions are being made about his future," Pearl said in a brief statement without taking questions. "We would just ask that folks please stop speculating about what may or may not happen."

Negedu's U.S. guardians, Frank and Alison Quirk, were in Knoxville on Wednesday to be with Negedu and help make decisions about his future. The Quirks were Negedu's host family while he attended Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, N.H.

"When they get through all the tests and they make their analysis, then decisions will be made about what is going to happen with Emmanuel immediately and what is going to happen with his future," Pearl said.

As a freshman, Negedu played in 33 games, averaging 7.2 minutes, 1.9 rebounds and 1.7 points per game.