Neill forwarded me this story–it’s one of those “feel-good” stories that I thought was pretty good…

Autistic team manager shows skills on floor

GREECE, N.Y. - Jason McElwain had done everything he was asked to do for the Greece Athena High School basketball team - keep the stats, run the clock, hand out water bottles.

That all changed last week for the team manager in the final home game of the season. The 17-year-old senior, who is autistic and usually sits on the bench in a white shirt and black tie, put on a uniform and entered the game with his team way ahead.

Ok, so right there, already a coach “doing the right thing.” Even though, as you’ll see later on, the game was pretty much already won, he did the right thing by letting McElwain in the game. But check this out…

McElwain proceeded to hit six 3-point shots, finished with 20 points and was carried off the court on his teammates’ shoulders.

I’m guessing that not many NBA players could drain six 3-pointers after not having played all season… and do it in FOUR MINUTES.

McElwain, 5-foot-6, was considered too small to make the junior varsity, so he signed on as team manager. He took up the same role with the varsity, doing anything to stay near the sport he loves. Coach Jim Johnson was impressed with his dedication, and thought about suiting up McElwain for the home finale.

His performance was jaw-dropping: 20 points in four minutes, making 6-of-10 3-point shots. The crowd went wild.

“It was as touching as any moment I have ever had in sports,” Johnson told the Daily Messenger of Canandaigua.

McElwain didn’t begin speaking until he was 5. He lacked social skills but things got easier as he got older. He found many friends and made his way through school in this Rochester suburb, although many of his classes were limited to a half-dozen students. And he found basketball.
On the varsity, he never misses practice and is a jack-of-all-trades.

“And he is happy to do it,” Johnson said. “He is such a great help and is well-liked by everyone on the team.”

Even though McElwain was in uniform for the Feb. 15 game, there was no guarantee he would play - Athena was battling for a division title.

The fans, however, came prepared. One section of students held up signs bearing his nickname “J-MAC” and cutouts of his face placed on Popsicle sticks.

This was good to see too. I know how brutal high school kids can be to each other. These fans could have easily came out and started making rude comments about the autistic kid. But instead, they embraced him and made him feel like he matters. Which he does.

You can read the rest of the article by clicking on the link above–very good story.