Tournament honors a teen survivor

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — A basketball tournament will honor the life of a young man who survived being shot in the head.

Fourteen-year-old DeAndre Knox was an honor roll student who was attending a birthday party with friends when he was hit by a stray bullet in February of 2014.

The “Pray for Dre, Play for Dre” tournament is a five-on-five game, at the Imagine Indiana Life Sciences Academy.

Dre’s mom says this event is for the community and for those who have suffered violence.

“Dre was shot two days after his first and only 7th grade basketball game,” said Dre’s mother DeAndra Yates. “He scored seven points and he was so excited right here in this very gym, and two days later, tragedy struck and he hasn’t been able to play since. So, I thought this would be a great way to honor my son, and his fight for survival and just keeping his dreams alive.”

Several community teams have already signed up to play.

Former NFL player and motivational speaker Corey Parchman will be the special guest.

Doors open Saturday, March 5 at 11:30 a.m. Games starts at noon. The cost is $5 to get in at the door.

DeAndra Yates said in addition to some great basketball games, there will be a speaker, and she is going to honor some community members whose lives have been touched by violence.

Knox says this event will also serve as a kick off for her “Purpose 4 My Pain” Foundation.

In addition to the tournament, the family has set up a Go Fund Me account.