Kevin Parrom says he’s “happy to be alive” after being shot Sept. 24 in The Bronx while visiting his mother.
Parrom, a 6-foot-6 junior from The Bronx, made the comments Wednesday at Arizona’s media day, according to the Daily Wildcat.
As first reported by SNY.tv, Parrom was shot once in the leg and a shot also grazed his hand. Jason Gonzalez, 19, of The Bronx was later arrested and charged with attempted murder. The dispute was apparently over a woman.
In addition to the shooting, Parrom’s mother, Lisa Williams, is also battling breast cancer and was described by Arizona coach Sean Miller as “very critically ill.” His grandmother also passed away within the past few months.
“I’m tired. I’m just tired,” Parrom, 20, told The Daily Star. “I can’t really explain what I’m feeling right now.”
Still, he is trying to remain positive despite all the heartache.
“I’ve been through everything. My mother’s my motivation,” Parrom said. “That’s how I’m staying composed. I lost my grandmother this summer so I’m just using family as my motivation. That’s why I’m staying composed. I’ll be all right. I’m tough. I’ll get through this.”
Parrom returned to Tucson two days after the shooting, but has been back to New York once since to identify Gonzlaez.
“The fact that he was able to get back here to Tucson as quick as he did had no bearing on his health, it had a lot more to do with his family’s faith in what we do here,” Miller said. “When Kevin’s surrounded by his teammates and coaches, he’s able to get to class, be around the students at Arizona, be surrounded by the community. That’s when he’s at his best and that allows him to have the best chance to be successful.”
Parrom and his Arizona teammates will be in New York to play St. John’s Nov. 17 in the 2K Sports Classic, but it remains unclear when Parrom will be able to suit up.
“Right now his future is in doubt,” Miller said. “Hopefully we’ll welcome him back at some point but we don’t have a crystal ball to know when and if that’s going to happen.”
