Aaron Romero

The bond's close between Marc Anthony Romero, a quadriplegic, and younger brother, Aaron, a hoops star at Hope Christian.
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Hope Christian player Aaron Romero has just scored another basket for the soon-to-be victorious Huskies.

He touches his heart and points to his older brother, Marc Anthony, as if to say, "That was for you."

Marc Anthony, seated in his wheelchair in the stands at The Pit, nods his head in approval as Aaron hustles back down the court to play defense.
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If Marc Anthony needed a glass of water, Aaron was there to get it.
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Although there were a few times when Aaron, tired, would become impatient, he quickly got over it and helped his brother.

"I'm blessed I can use my arms and my legs.I'm doing it for him, and he would do it for me.I know that," Aaron said.

Marc Anthony has been independent for the past four years, but when Aaron was growing up he was Marc Anthony's arms and legs.

Marc Anthony has given Aaron a lot in return.
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"Aaron has played basketball for so long that I have a higher expectation for him."

Marc Anthony says he also tries to reinforce the positive aspects of Aaron's game so he won't bring Aaron down.Given his condition, he says he knows how important it is to have a positive attitude and confidence.

With motivation and inspiration from Marc Anthony, Aaron has worked hard to try to fulfill the potential that Marc Anthony sees in him.
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Aaron has been Hope Christian's second-leading scorer the past two seasons and is working hard to help lead the Huskies as they bid for their second consecutive state Class 2A championship.

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When the Romero brothers were in elementary school, Marc Anthony would watch Aaron and his friends play basketball outside the family home.
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Marc Anthony would sometimes try to emulate his father, Mark, who was a coach, and begin coaching Aaron and his friends himself.
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"I have to play hard for him because he never got the opportunity that I got," Aaron says.

While he attended Valley High School, Marc Anthony was an assistant coach on the boys team at Garfield Middle School.After graduating in 1999, he became the girls head coach at Wilson Middle School.Last year he was an assistant for the boys C-team at Highland.

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In a few months, Aaron will graduate from Hope Christian.Although he doesn't know where he's going to school, he knows that he wants to play basketball wherever he goes.Aaron says that being away from his brother will be different and he will miss him but that he will always call him and talk to him as much as possible.

Marc Anthony says that he'll miss Aaron but that he'll be very happy if Aaron plays basketball after high school.
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"Aaron always wanted to play hoops somewhere."

Aaron says he is thinking about playing with friend Scotty McCall at the University of the Ozarks in Arkansas or maybe playing at Eastern Arizona Junior College.

He has also expressed interest in following Marc Anthony's lead and coaching someday.

"I've played basketball all my life, ever since I was little.So I want to stay a part of the game," Aaron says.

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"To see that Aaron has the love for his brother that he does and includes him in his game of basketball is real touching," Loretta Romero said.
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Loretta also describes Aaron and Marc Anthony as a team.
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Aaron and Marc Anthony look at each other as more than just brothers.

"(Marc Anthony) is not only my brother; he's my best friend," Aaron said.

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