MANASSAS, Va. — A middle school basketball team had a big surprise Wednesday night for a high-functioning special needs student who had stayed close with them all season.
After the tryout in January, eighth grader Kavon Davis didn’t make the cut but was brought on to the varsity boys basketball team at Parkside Middle School in Manassas as manager, doing the little things, such as setting balls and water bottles out at practices and making sure the scorebook was in its place at games.
But ahead of the team’s last game of the season, Coach Joseph Burgess decided to do something extra-special. In a team meeting right before the game, Burgess announced which players would be starting.
He asked the teen, “Kavon? Are you going to be ready to start today?” He then presented the smiling 14-year-old with a number 44 Parkside Panthers jersey.
“Now, Kavon’s been here at every practice, he’s worked his butt off. He’s even played with us out there. So I want to get him as many shots as we can possibly get,” Burgess told the team.
When his name was introduced at the start of the game, Davis ran on to the court, with players clapping and slapping his back in support.
“I’m so happy because I’ve got my jersey on, and I’ve been waiting to make the team,” Davis said during the game. “I’m having a dream come true right now.”
He has even bigger dreams.
“When I grow up I might play (in) the NBA. Just like the great basketball players,” he said.
In addition to Davis’ teammates, opposing players and referees were all made aware ahead of what was going on, and they worked hard to get the ball to Davis.
He scored several times, to cheers from the bench and the bleachers, where his mother and brother watched it all unfold.
