Why Alabama basketball's Collins Onyejiaka has been out: New information

Alabama basketball center Collins Onyejiaka has been out since mid-November with an unidentified medical condition that The Tuscaloosa News has learned is an irregular heartbeat.

Crimson Tide coach Nate Oats announced ahead of Alabama's game against Purdue on Nov. 13 that the freshman would be out "indefinitely" with a "medical condition."

A source with knowledge of the situation told The Tuscaloosa News that Onyejiaka has an irregular heartbeat. According to the Mayo Clinic's website, an irregular heartbeat – or arrhythmia – occurs when the “electrical signals” that prompt the heart to beat don't function properly. The heartbeat might be too fast or too slow, or have an inconsistent pattern.

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The source shared that Alabama signed Onyejiaka with this knowledge and that the player underwent a medical procedure prior to his enrollment. A follow-up appointment gave doctors reason for concern, resulting in Onyejiaka being sidelined from competition.

Onyejiaka will have another upcoming follow-up appointment in Atlanta, the source said. He is not expected to return to the court soon.

Oats said on Tuesday, Dec. 2, that Onyejiaka is "getting testing done" by Alabama's medical staff and expressed hope that "by the end of the week" the team would "have more answers."

Given the timing of Onyejiaka's health situation, the 6-foot-11, 265-pound big man would be eligible for a medical hardship waiver − or medical redshirt − with proper documentation from the university if he doesn't play again this year.

Medical redshirts require players to have participated in fewer than 30% of games and to not appear after the midway point of the season. Onyejiaka only had minutes in Alabama's games against North Dakota and St. John's.

Will Alabama basketball explore medical redshirt for Collins Onyejiaka?

Alabama has not made any statement regarding whether the team is exploring a medical redshirt for Onyejiaka.

Onyejiaka joined the Crimson Tide's 2025-26 roster after reclassifying from the 2026 class to the 2025 recruiting class. Prior to arriving at Alabama, he was a four-star prospect playing at The Newman School in Boston.

Alabama, ranked No. 12 in the USA TODAY coaches poll, will host Clemson on Wednesday, Dec. 3, at 6:15 p.m. in the ACC/SEC Challenge.

Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for The Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Alabama basketball freshman's medical condition revealed