CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. (WSVN) – Meet Alex Grazia, a 14-year-old basketball player who embodies true determination and tenacity. Like many young basketball fans, he dreams of one day playing for the Miami Heat and in the NBA. But for Alex, the court itself is a blessing and his journey is truly inspiring.
“I always wanted to play basketball. Watching NBA players play was my inspiration,” Alex said. “I wanted to be just like them.”
What sets Alex apart from other athletes is that he suffered a stroke shortly after birth that left him paralyzed on one side of his body and limited his movement on one side, but rather than letting this stop him from pursuing his dream, he discovered a talent for long-range shots, much like his idol, Stephen Curry.
“In seventh grade, I realized I could shoot the ball and I could play well, so I thought, ‘Yeah, I’ll try out for the middle school basketball team.’ I passed the tryouts and started making a lot of shots and playing on the team,” the high school freshman said.
Despite his physical limitations, Alex doesn’t just show up for Coral Springs’ recreational basketball team, he plays enthusiastically and earns the respect of teammates and opponents alike.
“Alex is really the heart of our team,” teammate Devon Souza said, “No question about it. That kid works harder than anybody else. It’s kind of hard to say anything bad about somebody that goes out on the court and plays better than you.”
For head coach Bob Thatcher, it was clear that Alex’s tenacity and work ethic made him an invaluable asset to the team, even though he only had one functioning arm.
“The first time I saw him step on the court, I had to take a double take,” Thacher said. “As you can see, he can only use one arm. I didn’t know he could run, but when I saw how hard he worked at tryouts, I immediately knew I wanted him on the team.”
Alex’s father, Hector, simply wanted to give his son the opportunity to pursue his passion, and it has paid off in more ways than one.
“Coming here was a big scare for me because I didn’t know how he would take it at first,” he said. “He’s proven himself, he’s earned the respect of his friends and teammates, and now they treat him like there’s nothing wrong with him.”
On the court, Alex’s disability is overshadowed and his confidence shines through. His message to those facing difficulties is simple yet powerful: “Follow your dreams and do what you want to do. Even if you have a disability, it shouldn’t stop you from playing the game or doing what you want to do.”
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