Grant's Bailey has to play it safe

Even the most fit basketball players can get winded during sprints.

But Grant junior guard Pierre Bailey knew he was in uncharted territory a couple of weeks ago. What was happening with him wasn't his normal huffing and puffing.

"I had really bad shortness of breath," Bailey said. "And my chest started burning. I knew something was wrong."

Grant coach Wayne Bosworth remembers Bailey sweating profusely and looking distressed.

Bailey sat down and trainers were summoned immediately.

All Bailey could think of was his older brother Nate Williams, a point guard who played his high school ball at Mundelein and graduated last year.

"I got kind of scared," the 17-year-old Bailey said.

When Williams, now 18, was a seventh grader, he experienced a scary ordeal. While bringing groceries inside the house, he suddenly felt strange. His condition quickly worsened, and his symptoms mirrored those of a heart attack.

Williams went to the hospital and was there for two weeks undergoing all kinds of testing.

"They determined that Nathanial had what is called cardiomyopathy," said Del, Nate and Pierre's mom. "They were talking about surgery, a pacemaker. But luckily, Nathanial didn't need any of that. He's fine now."

Cardiomyopathy is a disease of abnormal or thickened heart muscle in which the heart has to pump harder to deliver blood to the rest of the body. Cardiomyopathy can lead to heart failure and is the most common cause of sudden cardiac death in young people and athletes.

Bailey has spent the last two weeks being checked and re-checked for cardiomyopathy and various other heart ailments. So far, his tests have come back normal, and Bailey says that doctors have theorized that dehydration could have played a factor in his episode at practice.

He was scheduled to see a cardiologist on Friday for his final round of evaluations. If he gets a clean bill of health, Bailey is hoping to be able to return to the basketball court immediately.

"I feel fine now," said Bailey, who has been going to practices at Grant but has been limited to shooting set shots and free throws. "It's just frustrating having to sit out. I don't want to miss any more games. I want to play again."

Bailey has missed quite a few games over his high school career. He and his family moved during the middle of the school year last year.

So after averaging about 13 points per game for Mundelein over its first eight games last season, Bailey was forced to sit the rest of the basketball season because he had transferred to Grant. Williams, who was averaging about 19 points per game for the Mustangs, had his senior season, and thus his career, come to a sudden halt.

"It seems like every time I get going (with basketball), something happens and I can't play," Bailey said. "I think I could help out our team. I just have to play."

Before his episode at practice, Bailey was just starting to gain some steam. He says he was finally feeling comfortable with Grant's system and played some of his best basketball over the holidays at the Jacobs tournament.

"My goal is to finish this year strong because I want to have a really good senior year next year," Bailey said. "I'd like to play in college. I want to be able to score for us and to be a really good passer. I want to be a leader for our team."

Bailey sounds ready to put his whole heart into it.

pbabcock@dailyherald.com

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