Fisher: Polee Collapsed During Practice Last Year

The senior forward has not been medically cleared to return

San Diego State's Dwayne Polee II collapsed during practice a year ago but was cleared to play and did not miss any time, coach Steve Fisher said Saturday.

Fisher and Polee spoke to the media for the first time since the senior forward collapsed during the Dec. 22 game against UC Riverside.

He has not been cleared to return.

"We are still determining the cause of the problem," Fisher said. "Our major and only concern right now is for Dwayne Polee's health. If and when he is cleared by the doctors to participate, then we will deal with that."

Fisher and team doctor Allen Richburg say Polee will undergo further testing and no timetable has been set for his return.

Polee collapsed on the court during Monday night's game against UC Riverside and was taken off on a gurney. Polee was conscious when he left Viejas Arena for the hospital, where he was held overnight.

"It happened suddenly," Polee said. "Before the game and leading up to the game I was feeling great. It just happened out of nowhere."

Richburg says that due to Polee's previous collapse, doctors have additional concern about his condition, but that it's too early to tell whether the two episodes are related.

"Dwayne had a similar issue occur last year around Dec. 13," Fisher said. "During practice, he looked as if he was stumbling and went down on one knee and on his side. Within seconds, we were at his side, and he was sitting up and stood up. He was monitored as the season went on, and had no recurrences of anything."

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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