Autistic Basketball Player Scores
Jason McElwain overcomes autism and sets basketball record
If you've never heard of Jason McElwain or seen his video, you won't want to miss this article about a remarkable, autistic basketball player.
You may have heard of Jason McElwain by now. His story has made national news, but we believe it deserves a bit more run.
It is extremely rare, you see, that a story like JayMac’s come’s along. In the event that you don’t know this tale, here’s the Reader’s Digest version. A 17-year-old senior at Greece Athena High School in New Jersey, McElwain made a record six three-pointers in the final minutes of his last game. He scored 20 points in less than a quarter of basketball.
So, what’s the big deal, you may be wondering? Simple. JayMac is autistic , and prior to that night, he’d never seen a minute on the court in a real game; he was the team manager.
For the senior’s last night, though, the coach decided to allow him to suit up and sit on the bench. He even promised the team that if a victory seemed in the bag, he’d put JayMac in the game. When the young man with a disability that slows down most people was sent onto the court, the packed gymnasium erupted with joy.
Everyone wanted to see JayMac succeed, and he didn’t disappoint, hitting shot after shot, one farther from the basket than another. “I was hot as a pistol,” JayMac announced proudly after the game. No doubt about it.
Far more impressive, though, than the team manager’s shooting performance and his genial persona is the spectacle of the event and how it has captured the eye and heart of a nation.
We clamor to the television to watch awesome slam dunks and buzzer-beating 3-point shots. We shout when our favorite teams win and curse the officials and coaches when they lose. Not nearly often enough, however, do we stop to marvel at the purity of a young man knocking down jumpers for nothing more than the love of the game.
Jason McElwain will never play competitive basketball again, but for one shining moment, he made all of us love the game for more than the competition.
Be sure to check out JayMac in action.
