Autistic High School Senior Jason McElwain at Greece Athena High School in Rochester, N.Y. McElwain was added to the roster so he could be given a jersey and sit the bench the last game of the season. The coach Jim Johnson hoped the situation would even enable him to get McElwain onto the floor a little playing time. McElwain got the chance to go in, when Greece Athena went up double-digits. And, in his first action of the year, McElwain missed his first two shots, but then sank six three-pointers and another shot, for a total of 20 points in three minutes. "My first shot was an air ball (missing the hoop), by a lot, then I missed a lay-up," McElwain recalls. "As the first shot went in, and then the second shot, as soon as that went in, I just started to catch fire." "I've had a lot of thrills in coaching," Johnson says. "I've coached a lot of wonderful kids. But I've never experienced such a thrill." The crowd went nuts has McElwain had a terrific game. "I felt like a celebrity!" he beamed. "This is the first moment Jason has ever succeeded (and could be) proud of himself," reflects Debbie McElwain. "I look at autism as the Berlin Wall, and he cracked it." His teammates were filled with joy to see him so happy. "He's a cool kid," says guard Levar Goff. "You just get to know him, get used to being around him. A couple of weeks ago, he missed practice because he was sick. You feel different when he's not around. He brings humor and life to the team."
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/autistic-teens-hoop-dreams-come-true/
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