Tag, as close to the beginning of it as possible --> --> Video•Blogs•Mobile•Newsletters•Topics•ABC•ESPN Hot Topics: Taxes•ed hardy shirts•Apple iPad•Anna Paquin Home Video News Politics Blotter Health Entertainment Money Tech Travel Good Morning America 20/20 This Week Nightline World News More World News: Diane SawyerThe Fight for the Middle ClassAfghanistanWorld Newser BlogThe ConversationPerson of the WeekWatch Full Episodes Watch Video --> WATCH: Chinese Drywall May Pose Health Hazard WATCH: 'Choking Game' on the Rise WATCH: Man Says Late Pope Helped Him Walk Again WATCH: Coffee Wars Home > World News American Heart: Autistic Basketball Phenom Inspires Cornell Team 'J-Mac' Secret Weapon of Cornell Basketball Team During NCAA Tournament 3 comments by DAVID MUIR basketball shoes CHRISTINE BROZYNA March 25, 2010 If Cornell is this year’s Cinderella story at the NCAA tournament, than Jason "J-Mac" McElwain certainly would be its prince. Revisiting the game that changed a young autistic basketball player’s life.
J-Mac, who has autism, first captured the heart of the nation four years ago when, in the last game of his high school basketball team’s season, he was given his first chance to play. In just four minutes, he scored six three-point shots and finished with 20 points. He even tied the school record. One of J-Mac’s admirers is Cornell basketball coach Steve Donahue, whose own son, Matt, has autism. Donahue reached out to J-Mac after that electrifying high school basketball game and the two have stayed in touch ever since. "It was one of the greatest inspirational stories I had ever heard," Donahue said. "Jason was having so much fun and enjoying the experience. It made me really happy that one day my son could have kind of experience as well in his high school."
Related WATCH: Autistic Basketball Phenom at the ESPYs WATCH: Hoop Dreams for Autistic TeenAutistic Basketball Star’s Hollywood Ending This year, J-Mac,ghd hair straighteners, now 21-years-old,95 air max, joined Donahue at the NCAA tournament selection. In addition, he’s been calling and texting Donahue with advice for the team -- including how to beat top NCAA teams Temple University and University of Wisconsin. "Jason’s advice is unbelievable. The kid is on the money," Donahue said. "What better way to motivate our guys then to have Jason come in and talk to them. He’s got a lot of great ideas and always ends them with an inspirational thought. I love hearing from him."
Still, J-Mac, who is not a student at Cornell, is humble about his involvement with the team. "I’m not taking anything away from the team," J-Mac told ABC News. But it was J-Mac’s text in the final minutes of the Wisconsin game that has had the most impact. It read, "If you don’t dream to become a champion, you won’t become a champion." Moments later, Cornell won again. As J-Mac’s story continues to unfold, a new chapter is developing for the inspiring young man. He’s decided to turn his attention to the sidelines, in addition to giving advice to the Cornell basketball team, he volunteers as a junior varsity assistant coach for his alma mater -- Greece Athena High School in New York state. Next year, he’ll help with the varsity team. He also works a job in the Greece, N.Y., area.
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