SU commit Jack Donohue mends basketball confidence after open-heart surgery
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Jack Donohue noticed his heart beating unusually fast. His jaw tightened, and his vision frequently blacked out.
It was May 2025, during Donohue’s sophomore year of high school at Christian Brothers Academy (New York) in Albany. Donohue visited his local cardiology team, who directed him to New York-Presbyterian Hospital. There, he was diagnosed with a right anomalous artery, a condition that restricted blood flow to his heart and required immediate surgery. The doctors said he required significant rehabilitation to return to the basketball court.
Donohue underwent successful open-heart surgery a month later that lasted five and a half hours. Surgeons told his family he was three or fewer games away from cardiac arrest if he’d kept playing.
Donohue lost at least 10 pounds from the procedure, according to Mike Rice, his Amateur Athletic Union coach for the New Jersey Shoreshots.
One year after his open-heart surgery, Donohue’s back where he belongs on the court. The three-star Albany native committed to Syracuse on Aug. 3 and is its lone 2027 commitment. He starred at CBA-Albany for two years before switching to The Newman School (Massachusetts) for the 2025-26 school year, where his team went 38-3 last season, securing the National Prep Championship.
“It was the toughest news I had ever heard,” Donohue said of his diagnosis. “I didn’t know what my future was going to hold.”
That aforementioned future in basketball started long before he became a highly-recruited player. Donohue began participating in organized programs around third grade. His father, Darren Donohue, said Donohue “always had a ball in his hands.”
Donohue’s basketball passion sprouted at CBA, where he became both taller and stronger, garnering collegiate attention as a freshman. At 6-foot-8, his size and accurate 3-point shooting made him a well-rounded prospect.
During the spring and summer of his sophomore and junior years, Donohue competed for the Shoreshots on the Under Armour Association circuit. Rice said Donohue was still relatively unknown when joining the team, but his size and shooting ability grabbed his attention.
“His best basketball days are so far ahead of him, and he has so much potential,” Rice said. “He’s going to have a long, tremendous career.”
Rice, who had coaching stints at Rutgers, Robert Morris, Pitt and Marquette, described Donohue’s jump shot as “effortless” and said he could “consistently shoot from NBA range.” Rice said Donohue also separated himself by embracing screening and defensive communication during competition.
It was the toughest news I had ever heard. I didn’t know what my future was going to hold.Jack Donohue, Syracuse basketball commit
During the 2024-25 season at CBA, he averaged 4.6 points and 2.3 rebounds across 19 games. His season-high was 12 points on 5-for-7 shooting against Albany.
In 2025, before his surgery, Donohue made a lasting impression at the GymRat Challenge, an open event of nearly 300 teams, and GymRat Live, a 16-team high school invitational.
GymRat organizer John Kmack said Donohue was the event’s best shooter. In one competition that season, Jack scored 33 points and made seven-of-10 3-point attempts.
“His ability to shoot the ball, shoot over people and shoot with great range is what separated Jack from others,” Kmack said. “He is a Power Five shooter.”
Donohue’s GymRat return in 2026 was miraculous. Despite the life-changing news about his heart condition and weight loss aftermath, he was already focused on recovering. Kmack and Rice noticed flashes of Donohue’s former self because he was motivated by the adversity. This rang true, especially by the third game of GymRat Live.
“(Donohue) immediately told me, ‘I can’t wait to get back on the court,’” Rice said.
“When doctors at 16 years old have to crack your chest to come back from that and get back to an elite level is amazing,” Kmack said. “That’s a big mountain to climb, and he climbed it impressively.”
Donohue transferred to Newman, an elite basketball prep school ranked seventh in the country, for his junior year after being recruited by then-head coach Jackson Johnson. He wanted to face better competition in the Massachusetts Bay Independent League.
Duke Clement, Donohue’s Newman teammate, notices the same qualities as Kmack. Clement said Donohue is “extremely down to earth” and enjoys golf and collecting Pokémon cards.
While there, he also learned how to be consistent in the gym, which helped him as he progressed in his career.
“Newman has definitely made me mature quicker as a player and person,” Donohue said.
It’s that same nature that led Donohue to Syracuse and, specifically, to forming his relationship with SU head coach Gerry McNamara.
Jack Donohue prepares to shoot a 3-pointer for the New Jersey ShoreShots at an Under Armour Association circuit. He swiftly returned to play soon after open-heart surgery to patch restricted blood flow. Courtesy of New Jersey Shoreshots
McNamara initially offered Donohue when he was Siena’s head coach, where he helped the Saints to the NCAA Tournament and nearly upset No. 1 seed Duke. The two developed a relationship during Donohue’s hospitalization, Darren said, while Siena players called and visited.
“It was great to have their encouragement,” Donohue said. “That motivated me to get back on the court as soon as possible.”
Throughout the recruiting year, Donohue often watched Siena practices and attended the team’s home games. McNamara also regularly checked up on Donohue during his recovery.
“McNamara has a special way about him,” Darren said. “He genuinely cares about you as a person first and as a player second.”
The relationship eventually followed McNamara to Syracuse, where he’s brought former Saints players and recruits. The Orange earned commitments from transfers Gavin Doty — Siena’s top scorer last year — Tasman Goodrick and Francis Folefac. Freshman Ryan Moesch also flipped from Siena to SU.
So, when Donohue began considering college basketball, Syracuse became an obvious fit.
“When I saw the sense of pride and competitiveness from the entire program, I knew SU was the spot for me,” Donohue said.
Donohue already knew how McNamara coached and experienced that trust during his Siena recruitment.
Darren said McNamara valued Donohue as a player and person. McNamara also has a history of instilling confidence in his shooters at Siena, as he did with Doty.
“When McNamara, one of the greatest shooters in the history of college basketball, says to you, ‘I want you on my team,’ that’s about as big a compliment you can get,” Kmack said.
Donohue is still developing internal confidence. He’s been working with his trainer Steve Dagostino tirelessly to regain momentum and return to his original form. Once he does, Kmack said he’ll be “lights out from beyond the arc.”
Now, Donohue will play college basketball at Syracuse and prove himself two years after his heart procedure.
“Playing in my home state and around people that grew up watching me play is an incredible feeling and definitely an honor,” Donohue said. “I’m looking forward to showing fans I’m ready for the next step in my basketball career. I’m not going to back down from any noise I hear.”
