Homestead High Athlete Achieving His Goals After Overcoming Adversity
HOMESTEAD (CBS4) - On the basketball court he's a star shooter, but Homestead High basketball player Steven Claunch hasn't had an easy time getting to this point.
Steven was born with no fingers on his right hand, three toes on his right foot and a right leg that was several inches shorter than his left leg.
"From the very beginning everything he did was different," explained father Scott Claunch. "He learned to tie his shoe with one hand he learned to take a shower with only one hand."
He also learned to play basketball with one hand.
His parents noticed his talent early on.
Lynn Claunch recalled, "his grandfather gave him a basketball hoop when he was about two years old… he just threw the ball up and it went in his first shot."
His passion for basketball became a form of stress relief for Steven. He says he likes to "surprise people" when they realize how good he is at the sport. He had to sit out a season while undergoing surgery to correct the difference in the length of his legs. He said the pain of the surgery and recovery wasn't as bad as the emotional pain of watching the team play without him.
Tuesday, Steven shot hoops with Dwyane Wade Sr., the father of the Heat star who admires Steven's skill, his story and his attitude.
Steven also helps out with Wade's non-profit organization.
Steven Claunch is headed for an Ivy League education at the University of Pennsylvania. One day he hopes to be a sports broadcaster and although it's not an easy career path, that's never stopped Steven.
"I've done a lot of things that people thought I couldn't do and even I thought I couldn't do," said Claunch. "Never say never," he said.
