Wade in Parkland: ‘It’s inspiring’

Heat legend brings ‘moment of joy’ to returning students.

did absolutely nothing, and a professional basketball player talked to us and was real with us,” Novell said.

Novell later tweeted: “Can Dwayne Wade be our new secretary of education? He’s done 1000 times more than Betsy DeVos today.”

Wade’s voice became more powerful when it was revealed that one of those students killed, 17-year-old Joaquin Oliver, was buried in Wade’s No. 3 Heat jersey.

Wade’s mother, Jolinda, and his sister, Tragil, met and spoke with Joaquin’s parents, Manuel and Patricia, at their Coral Springs home last week. On Saturday, Patricia, Manuel and their daughter, Andrea, were guests of Wade’s at the Heat’s game against Detroit on Saturday.

Wade presented the family with a Heat “Vice” jersey and custom-made sneakers following the game.

On Wednesday, Wade met with two of Oliver’s best friends, seniors Julien Decoste and Darius Trotman.

Wade repeatedly has said he will continue to support the students and speak out against what he calls “weak gun laws.”

“I just think of myself as a concerned citizen of the community,” he said. “That’s it. I may be one of the most popular citizens of the community, but I’m just a citizen of the community like everyone else. My concerns are no different than your concerns or my next-door neighbor’s concerns. Safety for our kids. When the roads are messed up, complaining. It’s no different.

“I don’t look at myself as an activist. I look at myself as one of many in the community — I’m concerned with what’s going on not only in Miami, Florida but around the world. That’s how I view myself.”