Former Simeon star Kezo Brown shot, wounded Saturday on South Side

By Michael O’Brien

Kezo Brown (2) blows past a Houston player in JBA league action played Tuesday at Wintrust Arena 06-26-18. Worsom Robinson/For the Sun-Times.

Former Simeon basketball player Kezo Brown was shot Saturday on the South Side.

According to his family, Brown was involved in an altercation at a store in the 10600 block of South Bensley Avenue at 4:20 p.m.

“When he went in he bumped into a guy accidentally,” the family member said. “The guy got on his phone and ran over to the [housing complex] around the street. When Kezo left the store four guys surrounded him. One guy pulled out a gun and shot him. All of this happened because he bumped into a guy.”

The family says Brown was shot five times: three times in the chest, once in the hip and once in the left thigh. He’s been through three surgeries but is now conscious and talking and will recover.

Chicago police said on Saturday that Brown was shot outside the store when a dark-colored car approached and someone inside fired shots. Area South detectives are investigating.

Brown was a freshman All-American playing on Simeon’s varsity in 2015. He missed his sophomore year with health issues but returned and had a successful junior year, scoring 26 points to lead the Wolverines to the city championship. He missed his senior season with health issues.

Brown initially committed to play in college at Chicago State, but then decided to turn pro and join LaVar Ball’s JBA. He parlayed the JBA stint into a pro contract in China’s Wildball League this winter.

Friends have been wishing Brown well on social media. The Orr basketball team, which heard news of the shooting just before playing in the Class 2A title game in Peoria on Saturday, prayed for Brown before taking the court and dedicated the game to him according to coaches.