CUT SHORT

Gene Disorder Ends NBA Prospect’s Career

Baylor's Isaiah Austin.

Isaiah Austin was expected to be a second-round pick in the NBA draft this week, but his career has abruptly ended. In preparation for the draft, the Baylor University center underwent genetic testing. As a result, he discovered he has Marfan syndrome, a rare disorder affecting just 1 in 5,000 people. According to the Mayo Clinic, it affects connective tissue, specifically around the eyes, heart, blood vessels, and skeleton. People with Marfan syndrome tend to be tall and have long limbs. Austin was over seven feet tall and had the longest wingspan of any player at the NBA draft combine. Austin said via Twitter “The draft is four days away, and I had a dream that my name was going to be called. I’m sorry (my supporters) couldn’t see me play in the NBA. But it’s not the end. It’s only the beginning.”