…in less than 4 minutes.
I know this story is a few days old but I just found out about it last night and I think it’s pretty cool and I couldn’t find any other threads about it.
Watch the video. It’s really cool. The kid was shooting from waaaaay back and getting nothing but net every time. Even his two-pointer was almost a three. His toes were on the line.
No doubt this will be a movie.
This has been fairly big talk on the Sports radio show here in the NYC area last week. Very cool story. CBS-TV news local and National both covered it last week also.
It will be a movie shortly is my guess.
Good for him!!
However, it would be a breath of fresh air if someone rose above their disability and not have it become a movie. Can’t Disney just give the family some money and re-run Air Bud, Radio or something?
This happened in my area, so it’s getting talked about fairly often around here. It’s a pretty cool story, and I hope things continue to go well for him.
I head the Knicks were recruiting him, they are desperate for a 3 point shooter. 
Jim
No, they’re okay with 3-point shooters, but Isiah might be gettiing nervous…
I really don’t normally tear up at these kind of things, but damn. Way to go, J-Mac.
One of the radio shows I listen to had a “man-tear challenge” – watch the video and try not to get at least a little bit misty-eyed.
I failed.
I had no problem…but then my soul is devoid of anything at this point.
Don’t feel bad, I teared up trying to tell my Wife about. I heard it on the radio first.
Jim
I saw the video and his interview on ESPN they mentioned that he was a “highly functioning autistic”.
My question is why wasn’t this kid playing the whole time? He was the high scorer for the game in only four minutes.
I watched the video only kind of listening with one ear while I was doing something else. So I did a “huh?”, and replayed it.
Then again.
Then once more.
Just awesome, yeah I would have failed the test too.
I wondered that too. From my experience working with autistics, I would guess that there might be “coachability” issues for a more permanent situation. He probably wouldn’t track schemes and situations that well and might have difficulty playing defense. Plus, he’s only 5’6."
Still, if he had the ability to shoot the lights out every game like he did in this one, I might consider putting him in uniform permanently. 20 points in 4 minutes is phenomenal for anybody. If you’re behind and you need a few quick threes, what the hell. Let J-Mac do his stuff.
the team was feeding him the ball and the game was already out of hand. He would not have achieved this in a close game. In fact, the only reason he was in the game is because it was all but over.
Even so, those three point shots are not gimmes, even you’re not being guarded. He still had to make the shots and he made them.
I agree completely. However, you said
Not going to happen.
Good for the kid though.
He was a team manager, right?
I teared up watching the video. He seems like a great kid.
I did pass that test, but it’s a heck of a story- it’s the kind of thing that sounds trite but manages to be very sweet. Good for him.
Hell, I cried when I called the Jim Rome show about it today. Self-esteem is everything to these kids (I know because I have one), and what that coach did will make a difference in this kid’s life, forever. Good one, Coach Johnson.
I wanted to sound all cool and calm on the radio, but I damn near bawled a few times instead. That’s okay.
He tried out for the team and didn’t make the cut. Presumably he got a fair shake, but for whatever reason didn’t measure up. Most High School rosters don’t have the luxury of a one-dimensional player, he’d be taking a roster spot from another young player who could have developed into a star, or at least a back-up who could fill many roles.
Don’t make the mistake of assuming that because he got hot and caught lightning in a bottle, that he’d be able to recreate the feat under other circumstances. There’s many great players in the NCAA and NBA who’ve had one amazing game and have never been able to do it consistently.
Still, it’s a fun story. I thought about posting it when it first happened a week ago, but decided I that since I’m entirely soulless and dead inside, it would be lacking in the appropriate sentimenality.