Owen Groesser, 8th grader with down syndrome, honored by Harlem Globetrotter

(WXYZ) - Students at Van Hoosen Middle School filled the gymnasium with cheers and applause for Owen Groesser.

The 8th grader was honored at a pep rally. Owen, who has down syndrome, garnered national attention when he made a pair of three point shots at a school basketball game on Tuesday.

Today, Owen got a visit from Harlem Globetrotter, Buckets Blakes, who presented him with the Junior Phenom award. It celebrates great spirit and bringing people together.

Owen's friends and teammates launched a Twitter campaign called "Get Owen on Sportscenter." The effort paid off and Owen's two three point shots made the top 10 highlights on ESPN.

Today, Buckets showed Owen some of his globetrotting moves.

"Sports brings people together. No matter what our differences are," says Buckets Blakes.

Owen's dad Chris says this is all about so much more than making a few shots.

"This is about building the character of Owen and the character of the kids here and I think these kids are going to take these experiences away from them for the rest of their lives and I hope that going forward when they see someone with special needs they're going to embrace them and I think at the end of the day it makes us all better people," says Chris Groesser.