Syracuse guard Howard Washington reveals he had a stroke

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) — Syracuse guard Howard Washington, who's taken a medical redshirt for this season, has revealed he suffered a stroke in late September.

The 20-year-old sophomore, a native of Buffalo, New York, told The Post-Standard of Syracuse in a first-person story that he began feeling a little dizzy after a lecture Sept. 26 and then became very weak, losing "everything on the right side of my body." He said he never thought he was having a stroke.

Washington said after speaking with team trainer Brad Pike, a safety officer assigned to the basketball team took him to Crouse Hospital. Tests found two clots in an artery going up the left side of his neck to his brain. Doctors removed the clots and closed a hole in his heart wall.

Washington said he felt like he was holding onto his life. He said it was emotional afterward because he talked to his mom and coach Jim Boeheim and his staff were at the hospital.

After the surgery, Washington was placed on blood-thinners and was cleared to participate in full workouts on the first day of practice. Over three games early this season, he had four rebounds and one assist before deciding to take the redshirt after speaking with his parents.

Washington, who played in 18 games as a freshman before suffering a torn ACL in January 2018, said he's looking forward to next year.