Jamarion Styles, Courageous Student-Athlete
Jamarion contracted a rare bacterial disease which took both hands and most of one of his arms when he was an infant.
He loved basketball and wanted to play, but every week at the local community center, he waited to get picked for a team. Every week, Jamarion was left standing on the sidelines. Everyone saw a problem, but he didn't and he never gave up on his dream of playing the game. He explained that this could really break someone's heart. It may have for some, but not for Jamarion.
When he got to middle school, he went directly to the basketball coach who told him to try out. Jamarion shared with the coach that he had never been part of a team, and that was all he wanted. The coach heard him and he made the team. He quickly became one the of the hardest working members, showing up early for practice and staying late. He sat on the bench most of the season until one day he didn't.
Coach called on him to play with six minutes left in the game. When he finally got the ball the entire gym yelled, "shoot it," and so he did, making not only his first shot, but a three-pointer. The crowd went wild, but it didn't end there. He got the ball again shot another three-pointer at the buzzer.
Jamarion continues to play basketball in high school and is now looking to play football. He did not make the team his first year, but in Jamarion style, was back out there to try again.
He loved basketball and wanted to play, but every week at the local community center, he waited to get picked for a team. Every week, Jamarion was left standing on the sidelines. Everyone saw a problem, but he didn't and he never gave up on his dream of playing the game. He explained that this could really break someone's heart. It may have for some, but not for Jamarion.
When he got to middle school, he went directly to the basketball coach who told him to try out. Jamarion shared with the coach that he had never been part of a team, and that was all he wanted. The coach heard him and he made the team. He quickly became one the of the hardest working members, showing up early for practice and staying late. He sat on the bench most of the season until one day he didn't.
Coach called on him to play with six minutes left in the game. When he finally got the ball the entire gym yelled, "shoot it," and so he did, making not only his first shot, but a three-pointer. The crowd went wild, but it didn't end there. He got the ball again shot another three-pointer at the buzzer.
Jamarion continues to play basketball in high school and is now looking to play football. He did not make the team his first year, but in Jamarion style, was back out there to try again.