Insights on Jason McElwain's Basketball Story

Jason McElwain was featured in the top sports moments in ESPN. It happened in 2006. He was diagnosed in the autism spectrum disorders. He was team manager in his high school basketball team in his first three years. Then he was given a break in to his fourth year to prove to the world that he can play. So the coach inserted him in the line up with roughly around four minutes left. He missed his first three point attempts and made succeeding shots in the three point line shooting 6/7. It is a one game wonders for this kid.

What is not known in that story is that does he practice to get better. I would formulate the fact that his lack of social skills may hinder his playing time.  Because in basketball it is a team sport and you must need collaborative efforts to make your team win.

 Basketball is a sport where five players with different roles in the team. It composes of two guards, two forwards and one center. The three frontcourt players are the forwards, small forwards and power forwards respectively and the center, usually these are the taller and bigger players in the court, and other times there are undersized players who play frontcourt positions but they have intensity, toughness and grit. The two forwards in offenses can be alternated to the wing and to the post to create mismatches in scoring opportunities, in defense they usually can defend wing players on man to man situation. Power forward usually defends their counterparts who love to play inside and can even play the opposing center if the center roams the paint and guards his match-up. The center is the last line of defense and he is the one who is usually the top rebounder of teams. He is the defensive anchor, who protects the basket. In offense they usually display moves inside and can be targeted for lob passes and is the primary offensive rebounder. The two back court players compose of the point guard and the shooting guard (or off guard) who play more in the outside. The point guard is usually the team’s ball handler, they make plays, thus placing teammates in better scoring opportunities.  The off guard is usually the team’s scorer the create shots for himself and can act as a team’s ball handler if the point guard is tightly guarded.

Jason McElwain knew these roles in basketball but he may struggle to accept it or when it comes to the actual game sometimes he may miss out in plays which are crucial. He may be inflexible in roles because basketball is an evolving game that needs constant change he may seem less adaptive to changes. As a teammate he may struggle to read nonverbal cues such as a person cutting to the basket cueing to give him the ball or where the ball is going on defense (eye contact of where the pass is going or pass perception). As I observe the video he was seen only standstill in the corner waiting for him to hand the ball to him and bomb those threes. Maybe his autism cannot expand his on court awareness such as proper spacing, positioning without the ball, decision making on when to pass and when to shoot, how to help guys on defense.

Basketball requires team chemistry to unite and sustain the cohesiveness of the team. In how to blend with teammates he may have difficulty in team chemistry because it will require him to interact with his teammates and understand context cues. There are jargons and slangs in basketball plays that we should understand so the coach and the players communicate effectively with each other. The team have some trips too that he might be with and he might have sensory issues when he plays on the court on a daily basis. He might be overwhelmed that his brain cannot process multiple inputs at the same time, physically, mentally and emotionally.

He would be better, where he is right now. After 10 years in his only game, in the high school varsity. He was reported to become the assistant coach beside his father. His knowledge of the game made him into the coaching staff.  His love for basketball made him stand for the rest of people with autism. Not only does he play basketball but he runs marathons too. He currently works as a baker in a grocery store. As part of the coaching staff he inspired players to play the right way through the mentoring of his father. He inspires us a lot, thus he would be regarded as one of the sports bright stories.

Click this Link to see his video: Jason McElwain's big day, 10 years later or you can see this video below