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.
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. Full story here.
What a fantastic story. Can’t you imagine how nervous his parents must have been when he entered the game, and their joy as the crowd went wild. Good for him, and for those who have loved and supported him.
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[…] Remember the story of the autistic boy who hit 20 points off the bench. He was the team manager, deemed to small to play ball. […]