Recently retired NBA star Dwyane Wade, who has been a visible supporter for parents, students and teachers at the South Florida high school where 17 people were killed in a mass shooting last year, made another appearance Sunday.
Wade was the surprise guest and speaker Sunday at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School's graduation commencement, the Sun-Sentinel reported.
The pro basketball star showed up to the school to offer his support the day after the Feb. 14, 2018, shootings that killed 14 students and three faculty members. One of the students killed, 17-year-old Joaquin Oliver, was buried in a Wade Miami Heat jersey, the newspaper reported.
Sunday, Wade spoke to the Class of 2019 at the BB&T Center in Sunrise, WSVN reported. He talked about his impressions of walking around the school the day after the shootings, the Sun-Sentinel reported.
“I remember walking to the school, and I remember hearing absolutely nothing,” Wade said. “I remember thinking to myself, ‘I’ve never felt ... never heard this kind of silence before in my life.
“I remember being so nervous to see and meet everybody. What would I say? I grew up in the inner city of Chicago and I’ve experienced a lot of awful things. But I’ve never experienced anything to the magnitude that you guys have just experienced.
Credit: Michael Reaves/Getty Images
Credit: Michael Reaves/Getty Images
“What started going through my mind was, ‘How do I dare come in here and act like I know what you guys have been going through? How narcissistic of me to think I can come here and make a difference because I’m good at my sport. I remember walking slowly to the cafeteria. As I was walking in, students started seeing me, I remember seeing smiles, people running, pulling out their phones. ... I remember thinking, ‘Wow.’ It was packed. I didn’t expect that.”
Wade retired in April after a 16-year career in the NBA.
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