Special-needs teen is ‘three-point specialist’ with Harlem Globetrotters for 1 night
It was just a couple of weeks ago that 18-year-old Bensalem (Penn.) High School senior Kevin Grow, who has Down syndrome, signed with the Philadelphia 76ers. The Harlem Globetrotters wanted the talented player too.
“He watches the Globetrotters religiously,” Kevin’s father, Earl Grow, told ABC news.
The Globetrotters dubbed Kevin as their “three-point specialist” for Monday night’s game in Philadelphia and gave him the nickname KG3, which was stamped on the back of his Globetrotter uniform.
Kevin joined the Globetrotters on the court for the entire third quarter, according to ABC 6. He scored 12 points, including his famous three-pointer from NBA range.
“Kids with special needs have a lot of abilities you don’t even know,” Kevin’s mother, Dorothy Grow, told ABC News. “Don’t underestimate them. Challenge them.”
The hometown crowd inside Philadelphia’s Wells Fargo Center was thrilled to see Kevin and gave him a warm welcome.
“The energy in the room was very great. The crowd loved Kevin,” Bensalem High School sophomore Brian Ortiz told NBC 10. “It was a great experience to be there and see him happy. I went to the game to show my support.”
The only other player in history to sign with both the 76ers and the Globetrotters is Wilt Chamberlain, who signed with the basketball stunt performers in 1958 and then with the 76ers from 1965 to 1968, according to the Globetrotters.
