Autistic hoops player comes off bench to score 20 points in four minutes

GREECE, N.Y. — Alone in the gym after practice, Jason McElwain went through his elaborate pregame ritual.

The 17-year-old senior, manager of the Greece Athena High School basketball team, made a three-pointer, a double-pump layup and a free throw, kissed the back of his ring finger at center court and sped off to the dressing room to exhort and amuse teammates.

In rap verse, McElwain sang:

You've gotta give it everything you got

The winner goes home all happy

The loser goes home and says,

"Mommy, we lost the game.

Waa, waa, waa!"

McElwain, who is autistic, was back in his role as all-around motivator on the eve of a sectional-semifinal game Tuesday night — handing out water bottles, dispensing tips and helping run drills.

Two weeks earlier, he suited up for a game and delivered a jaw-dropping performance by scoring 20 points.

His play drew national attention, and a flood of calls from Hollywood. His parents have received inquiries from about 25 production companies, ranging from The Walt Disney Co. and Warner Bros. to independent documentary filmmakers.

"I don't know what I'm walking into," McElwain said.

In his team's final home game of the season, McElwain entered with four minutes to go. It was his first and only appearance for the Athena varsity team in this Rochester suburb. The 5-foot-6 manager made six three-point shots and a two-pointer — and was carried off the court on teammates' shoulders.

His triumph was captured on a student video that made the rounds of the television networks. The school was besieged with calls and e-mails from parents of children who have autism, a developmental disorder that is often misunderstood.

"We have an obligation as a society to find a way to include people with different abilities," said the school's athletic director, Randy Hutto, whose 12-year-old son, Joshua, is autistic. "This, hopefully, will help open doors for some people, or open some eyes."

McElwain, who didn't begin talking until he was 5, lacks some social skills but has learned to cope well in his teens, said his special-education teacher, Diane Maddock.

"He might talk a little loud, laugh a little too long or not be able the read the body language or even the tone of voice of a person, but it's not a big difficulty," Maddock said. "If you call him on it, he will acknowledge it, say, 'OK, you're right, I shouldn't have said that, or laughed when I laughed.'

"This couldn't happen to a nicer kid."

Considered too small to make the junior-varsity team, McElwain signed on as manager and took up the same role with the varsity to stay near a sport he loves.

Because he played in just one regular-season game, McElwain was ineligible for sectional play. But he doesn't seem fazed.

"I just want to win as a team, not individually," he said.

McElwain prides himself on having a lot of friends.

"I'm not really that different," he said. "I don't really care about this autistic situation, really. It's just the way I am.

"The advice I'd give to autistic people is just keep working, just keep dreaming. You'll get your chance, and you'll do it."