RICHMOND, Va. -- Former VCU basketball star Justin Tillman is asking for prayers days after his father died from coronavirus complications and his mother continues to fight for her life in the hospital.
Tillman says both of his parents were recently hospitalized due to COVID-19.
He says his father John Tillman succumbed to the virus on April 4.
The Michigan native remembered his father as a great man who loved and always took care of others.
“He was the life of the party, super funny, and could make anyone laugh,” said Tillman on the family’s GoFundMe page. “Most importantly, he loved spending time with his family.”
John Tillman left behind a wife, two children, and a grandson.
The Tillman family created a GoFundMe page to help with medical bills and funeral expenses
“We respectfully ask for any donations you care to contribute,” Tillman wrote. “Please keep our mother in your prayers for full recovery as she is still in the hospital in critical condition.”
Tillman played four years of college basketball at VCU from 2014 to 2018. He finished his career as the Rams’ third-leading rebounder (922) and tenth-leading shot blocker (102) of all time.
He now plays basketball professionally for Hapoel Gilboa Galil in the Israeli Premier League.