Brennen Scott (10) and the Oak Ridge Wildcats in a District 3-4A contest on Friday, Jan. 13, 2023. (Photo by Charles Mays Media)
BY MIKE BLACKERBY
Brennen Scott’s much-anticipated senior season was going about as planned.
The veteran Oak Ridge guard was averaging 14 points a game for the Wildcats, who looked to be one of about 10 area Class 4A teams with a legitimate shot to make it to the state tournament in March.
But about three weeks ago all of Scott’s basketball hopes and dreams came crashing down.
“I got dizzy at practice and had trouble breathing,” said Scott.
“I could kind of tell something was off and not normal.”
It wasn’t the first time that Scott experienced on-the-court problems.
“It kind of started when I was playing AAU ball in July,” he recalled.
“I had some of the same symptoms then, but didn’t think anything of it.”
But this episode seemed different.
Following his second on-the-court health scare in practice, Scott immediately went to the emergency room.
“They did blood tests. We got the results back and they said there was nothing abnormal.”
Still, doctors told Scott he needed to see a cardiologist just to be on the safe side.
“About two weeks ago they did an echocardiogram,” said Scott.
The diagnosis was a shock.
‘There was a risk of sudden death’
Scott has hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), a condition that is most often caused by abnormal genes in the heart muscle that cause the walls of the heart chamber (left ventricle) to become thicker than normal.
In obstructive HCM, the thickened part of the heart muscle can block or reduce the blood flow from the left ventricle to the aorta.
HCM is one of the most common causes of cardiac death in young people and competitive athletes.
Translated, Scott’s basketball career was over.
“If I had kept playing there was a risk of sudden death with this disease,” said Scott.
“I’m going next week to get a stress test, but as of right now I really can’t do anything (physical) at all. This is something I will live with the rest of my life.”
‘He’s just a winner’
If any young person can handle such a crushing turn of fate, Oak Ridge coach Aaron Green said it’s Scott.
“Obviously, I hate it for him,” said Green.
“It was tough when he got the news. Brennen is just a great kid who probably would have had the opportunity to play basketball after high school.”
Green said Scott, the son of Oak Ridge assistant coach Ronnie Scott, brought much more to the team than his 14 points per game.
“He has taken plenty of chewings from me, but he’s one of those kids who is ‘yes sir, no sir,’” said Green.
“He’s just a winner.”
Green said Scott hasn’t missed a beat since his diagnosis.
“He has been at every practice and he is on the bench during games,” said Green.
“You want guys like him around the program who are high character kids and winners. He can still impact us with his presence.”
Ultimate team guy
Understandably, Scott said he has struggled with his diagnosis and the realization that his basketball career is over.
“These have been tough times for me, but one way to deal with it is stay involved with the team,” Scott said.
“I’m doing my best to put that stuff to the side and help my teammates out and lift them up.”
