Owen Groesser receives Globetrotters' Junior Phenom award - New York News | NYC Breaking News

Owen Groesser receives Globetrotters' Junior Phenom award

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By Jason Carr
Fox 2 News


ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich. (WJBK) -- The Van Hoosen Vikings of Rochester Hills applauded two celebrities on Friday.  One was a Harlem Globetrotter.  The other was EPSN's newest star despite only playing two minutes in one game all season.

Owen Groesser, an eighth grader who has Down syndrome, buried not one but two three pointers for his school's basketball team.

"Having Owen around just kind of gives us a little bit more energy every single day because he just kind of lights up a room when he walks in," said Coach Jeff Howell.

A Twitter campaign led to ESPN and that led to the Harlem Globetrotters visiting Groesser's school.

Buckets Blakes gave Groesser the Junior Phenom award.

"Sports brings people together no matter what our differences are, and then you get the opportunity to share a piece of your uniqueness with the rest of the world," said Blakes.  "That's what Owen's doing here."

"This is more than a couple shots.  This is about building the character of Owen and the character of the kids here," said Chris Groesser, Owen's dad.

As for what Owen thinks about all this, he said "super fun".

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