Buckeye basketball allstar living his dream one basket at a time
Maison Bartman loves school, friends, girls and spending time with his siblings. However, if there's one thing the 17-year-old loves more than anything, it's basketball and he's not letting anything get in the way of him becoming the best player there is.
"He'll find a hoop anytime, anywhere," his mom, Rebecca Bartman, said.
He first grabbed onto a basketball at two years old. He was so good, his parents got him a hoop right away for him to practice. He's since been unstoppable.
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"We gave him every opportunity there was, and he's just shined in everything he's done," His mom said. "This kid has shown us so much."
Now, he's determined more than ever to shine. Watch him play, and you'll see the basketball court is where he belongs.
"I just see this passion," his mom said. "It's his thing, he comes alive when he's on the court."
For Bartman, her son's basketball journey is something special. Something she was told would likely never happen.
"When he was born [the doctors] were like it's Down Syndrome," she said. "We're pretty sure he has Down Syndrome."
She says the diagnosis brought panic and concern because of what doctors were telling them. She quickly learned he was no different than anyone else.
"He started walking right before he was two years old," she said. "He potty-trained himself at 2.5 years old. This kid was just amazing. This kid has shown, if you put everything in a child, they will thrive."
Maison was not letting his diagnosis stop him.
"We gave him every opportunity there was and he's just shined in everything he's done," she said.
"I played baseball, soccer, football, track and field," Maison said. "Basketball [is my favorite]."
Last June, he tried out for the National Sports Union for Athletes with Down Syndrome European Championship. The tryouts, according to Maison, were easy. However, his family says otherwise because it was five days straight of playing for eight to nine hours each day.
"He made 32 shots in a row," Bartman said.
Recently, Maison and his family learned he was chosen to play as one of just six athletes to represent the United States. It's the first time an American team will compete.
"I'm not nervous," Maison said with a smile.
However, he knows the teams they'll face will be tough. The lineup includes Hungary, Finland, Turkey and the reigning champion Italy. Still, Maison says his team is ready.
"Every one of them is so unique and so excited and so special," his mom said. "I'm glad they're doing this for our kids and hopefully we'll come home with a win."
Maison is spending each day before he leaves on the court to practice before the tournament. There's hope by sharing his story, he'll help inspire others, to live their dream and shoot for the stars.
"I'm proud of him," Bartman said. "I'm so proud of all the boys who made the team. Don't let a diagnosis stop you, have your child and give them everything you can because they can do amazing things."
"I hope we win," Maison said.
Maison's basketball journey doesn't end here, after this tournament he hopes to play at the Special Olympics in Chile in 2027. He ultimately wants to become the first Harlem Globetrotter with Down Syndrome.
You can follow Maison's basketball journey here .
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