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AZ Basketball Forward Lucky to Be Alive

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Arizona chapter.

U of A basketball swing player, Kevin Parrom, was shot in the Bronx last Saturday night. The Bronx native left Tucson two days earlier to visit his ill mother who is in the hospital. Parrom tweeted, “Phx Airport On My Way Home To See The Pride & Joy Of My Life Love you Ma . . . Be Home Soon”.

            That Saturday, according to NYPD Lt. John Grimpel in a report to the Arizona Daily Star, Parrom was in his home with an unidentified woman. Two men knocked on the door and the woman went to answer. One of the men appeared to be in his 20’s while the other looked to be in his teens. When the woman answered the door the men entered. After an apparent dispute Parrom ran to the bedroom and one of the men pulled out a .22-caliber handgun and shot him. Parrom was shot once in the right leg behind his knee. He also suffered a cut on his hand in a struggle for the firearm.

            The two men are still at large and no one has been arrested. As for Parrom he left the Bronx Monday night and is now back in Tucson. The junior guard/forward may be stuck in a walking boot for now but is lucky to have his life. Coach Sean Miller comments on the situation and tells UA Athletics “He will return to classes this week and also begin his rehabilitation process. We will know a lot more about his return to basketball activities in a month. At this time our focus is to provide him a comprehensive support system to allow him to progress to his full potential. Kevin, first and foremost, is fortunate to be alive.”

            Hopefully Parrom’s road to recovery isn’t too long. Though the junior has only started 12 games in his collegiate career he will be starting the season as one of the most experienced returning players. Parrom, a swing player playing both forward and guard, was a hopeful prospect to pick up much of the rebounding slack that comes with absence of D-Will this season. Known for his “no easy buckets” foul against ASU’s Ty Abbott Parrom is identified as an aggressive in the paint force. Yet he also possesses a skillful 3 point shot which coach Miller praises as one of the best on the team.

            Despite the terror, KP is nothing but hope and humor. He tweets to Washington’s Isiah Thomas “Idk what hurts more your shot that went in at the end of the game or the 1 i got this weekend smh lol” in reference to last year’s loss to Washington in the Pac-10 championship game. Let’s face it wildcats, after this football season were going to need a good basketball season so cheer KP out of that walking boot and back onto the beautiful hardwood floor of the McKale center.

My name is Jessica Cooper and in the Fall I will be a Senior at the University of Arizona. I am majoring in journalism with a dual minor in history and judaic studies. My focus is in both print and online journalism. I have loved being a part of the Her Campus team for the last semester and am so excited to be the campus correspondant for the 2011-2012 year.