Autistic Basketball Champ Teaches Kids Hope With Hoops
How would you feel if a team of medical specialists reviewed your background and declared, at the age of 5, that because you had Autism, you would never be successful academically, that you would likely not graduate from high school much less go to college, and that being an athlete was out of the question. Anthony Ianni faced that future and just flat out refused to accept it – he ignored what the doctors said, set goals, worked hard, and created his own destiny.
Anthony defied all of the odds, graduated from high school and earned a basketball scholarship at Grand Valley State University. Not satisfied with just climbing a hill, Anthony pushed for the summit. He fulfilled a personal dream to play basketball for Tom Izzo at Michigan State University and not only graduated from MSU with a degree in Sociology, but became the first known individual with autism to play college basketball. During his time there, he played in two Big Ten Championships and a Final Four.
Now Anthony is working to make sure that kids with autism and other learning disabilities aren't deterred from being all they can be. As a coach at the non-profit camp, Kids On The Go, near Detroit, Michigan, Anthony is teaching kids the basics of basketball and making sure they get an opportunity to learn, have fun, and achieve that wonderful feeling of accomplishment that comes with trying new things.
Watch how Anthony inspires the group with his warmth and passion. "If you have dreams and goals, go out and achieve them," he encourages. "Don't let anything or anyone tell you that you can't do this and can't do that, and don't let obstacles stand in your way from living your dreams."
Anthony lived it, and now these kids have a role model to show them they can do it too!
Learn more at: https://www.kidsonthegocamp.com/
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