Former Baylor star and former NBA prospect Isaiah Austin will play for Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas in the FIBA Asia Champions Cup.
The Philippines men’s national team has competed in FIBA competitions for basketball clubs such as the FIBA Asia Champions Cup under a club name (Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas). They will look towards Austin as a potential naturalised player for future international tournaments.
The Pilipinas will also bring in Nigerian forward Bright Akhuetie as a second import.
But the arrival of Austin is big news for them. The Baylor standout declared for the 2014 NBA Draft and was predicted to have a bright future in the league, he was projected to be a top-10 pick.
However, with days until the Draft, Austin was diagnosed with Marfan syndrome, a genetic disorder that affects the body’s connective tissue, meaning that he could not play competitive basketball since the arteries in his heart were abnormally large, and there was too much risk of his aorta rupturing if he continued to play.
But, two years after his condition was announced, the doctors gave the 23-year-old the all clear to play again and he joined Serbian side FMP where he averaged 9.1 points in nine Adriatic League games.
Austin has also had a spell at Guangxi Rhinos in China.
