BYU Basketball: Nick Emery returns home from LDS mission for medical reasons

BYU Cougars commit Nick Emery is returning home from his LDS mission for medical reasons.

Nick Emery’s brother, former BYU standout Jackson Emery, broke the news that Nick would be arriving in Utah on Wednesday.

"He received a medical release from his mission to deal with an ongoing issue that he had pre-mission," Jackson wrote. "He will be tested and from there they will determine the diagnosis and if he needs surgery."

A Facebook post on Nick Emery’s Facebook page explained that Nick Emery has Thoracic Outlet Syndrome.

Elder Emery has recently been dealing with worsening conditions of thoracic outlet syndrome. He has undergone testing and examinations and several doctors and specialists have been consulted about his condition. His mission president, President Stoddard (a medical doctor) and area church medical doctors concluded that he needs to have treatment sooner than later to correct these issues or they will continue to worsen. Elder Emery has been given a medical release and will be returning home on Wednesday, August 6 for treatment which may possibly include surgery. He should make a full recovery and we ask that you remember him in your prayers.

President Ronald A. Stoddard was a neonatologist and medical director of the newborn intensive care unit for Intermountain Healthcare prior to becoming the LDS mission president for the Germany Frankfurt Mission in July 2014.

The U.S. National Library of Medicine described Thoracic Outlet Syndrome as "a rare condition that involves pain in the neck and shoulder, numbness and tingling of the fingers, and a weak grip. The thoracic outlet is the area between the rib cage and collar bone."

"Surgery to remove the extra rib and break up tight fiber bands may ease symptoms in some patients. Surgery can be successful in more than half of patients. A few patients have symptoms that return after surgery," according to the article.

Emery left for his mission in Frankfurt, Germany in May 2013. He was expected to return for BYU's 2015-2016 season.

It is unknown at this time how or if Emery’s condition will affect his basketball career.

The former Lone Peak Knight was a two-time high school player of the year in Utah and ranked in the top 50 players in his recruiting class.