As a high school senior in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the 6-foot-9 Lacey James attracted the attention of many college basketball scouts. Then he started coughing.

Suffering from bronchitis, he was taken to the hospital. This led to chest x-rays and electrocardiogram (EKG) tests, which examine the electrical signals from the heart.

When the EKG results came back, doctors realized something was wrong and referred James to a specialist.

After further tests, experts confirmed that there was a heart abnormality, but it was unclear what exactly was wrong. James was told to quit basketball and discontinue all his athletic activities.

I can’t do that, James thought.

“I came out of the womb playing basketball,” he said. “I worked hard all through high school for a basketball scholarship, but all I wanted to do was play the game.”

James immediately sought a second opinion. He had no symptoms and no known risk factors for heart disease. Without a better explanation, he wasn’t going to end a promising basketball career.

James received a second opinion. And the third. And the fourth.Everyone advised him to stay off the court, but no one could pinpoint the reason, all they knew was something It seemed wrong.

He decided to see one last doctor before giving up. He had heard that Mayo Clinic cardiologist Dr. Michael Ackerman had worked with many athletes and conducted research in sports and cardiology.

James and his mother, Callie James, traveled to Rochester, Minnesota, to meet Ackerman. After two days of tests, Lacey and Curry sat in the waiting room praying for good news.

“I thought he was going to be my last stop,” Lacey said. “He is an expert and has done research in this field and I was ready to respect his decision.

“And I knew that if he didn’t clear me, I would never play basketball again.”

Ackerman provided two pieces of information that changed his life.

First, there’s the diagnosis. “You have moderate hypertrophic cardiomyopathy,” Ackerman told Lacey.

And there was a prophecy that said, “Then I will give you permission to play basketball.”

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a condition in which the walls of the heart chambers thicken, reducing blood flow to and from the heart. Lacey’s symptoms were relatively mild, so it was safe for her to return to full physical activity, but Ackerman said she would need annual exams to monitor her heart.

That’s what Lacey did.

He played four seasons at Northern Illinois University and visited Ackerman for his annual physical. He also did everything he could to keep his heart healthy. He ate well, didn’t drink alcohol, and, of course, got plenty of physical activity.

After graduating from college, Lacey was not drafted by an NBA team. However, the next best offer he was given was a spot with the Westchester Knicks of the NBA G League, the NBA’s official minor league organization.

When he disclosed his heart problems, the league did not allow him to play. He missed the entire season while NBA officials considered his health. He ultimately won the championship and now plays for the Windy City Bulls, the Chicago Bulls’ NBA G League affiliate, keeping his hopes of making it to the NBA alive.

After having his dreams almost shattered multiple times, Lacy, now 27, believes his time on the court is for a greater purpose. He wants to use basketball as a platform to reach people, including the next generation.

“All of that made me stronger and solidified my belief that I should use basketball to make a difference,” he said. “I continue to work hard on the court to inspire others and create opportunities for kids to get excited about the game.”

“It’s been a tough road so far,” Currier said. “But he continues to climb the mountain and continue to fight to get back on the court where he belongs.

“Every time I see him warming up for a game, I tear up because I know how much work he has put in to get there.”

Stories from the Heart chronicles the inspiring journeys of heart disease and stroke survivors, caregivers, and supporters.