Turiaf should be able to resume basketball career July 27, 2005 Turiaf underwent surgery at Stanford University Medical Center in Palo Alto, Calif., on Tuesday, and Dr. Craig Miller said that he was able to repair Turiaf's enlarged aortic root without having to replace the heart valve. That means the former Gonzaga star could still play for the Lakers. Gonzaga coach Mark Few said he was told by the doctor that Turiaf should be able to eventually resume his basketball career. But the Lakers will ultimately have to decide if Turiaf will be cleared to play. ``And that could be months, maybe even a year or more, before that's all sorted out,'' Few said was quoted as saying by The Spokesman-Review. Few, one of several team officials at the hospital, called the surgery outcome ``terrific,'' adding, ``It's as good as we could have hoped for.'' Turiaf plans to eventually return to Spokane to recover from his surgery, Gonzaga officials said. ``It'll be good for him to get back among friends,'' Few said. Turiaf, selected 37th in the draft, was diagnosed with an enlarged aortic root during a team physical after the draft. Had the condition not been caught and treated it could have been fatal, Lakers spokesman John Black said. The 6-foot-10 power forward averaged 15.9 points, 9.5 rebounds and 1.9 blocked shots as a senior at Gonzaga last season.
