CREVE COEUR, Mo. — De Smet Jesuit High School in Creve Coeur, Missouri, became the first Catholic all-boys Jesuit high school to start an inclusive education program. It allowed a young man to have a chance to go there.
We often call De Smet the "Palace on Ballas." Many great things have happened in that gym, but perhaps none better than the one authored by this 14-year-old boy with Down syndrome named Aiden Hadican.
"He's brought a lot of excitement to our school, and he's a big basketball guy, so, love seeing him have that kind of moment like he did Friday," De Smet coach Kent Williams said.
Aiden is one of the more popular kids at school, everyone knows him.
His peer mentor is senior Andrew Raga.
"You ever see him in a bad mood?" 5 On Your Side's Frank Cusumano asked.
"Never, never. Aiden's never in a bad mood. You're always having a lot of fun. Always have a smile. I always want to give someone a hug or wave at someone," Raga said.
When Aiden is not walking to class with Andrew, he's in the gym working on his famous half-court shot.
"I come in here all the time, Aiden's shooting in here in the afternoon. I've seen him knock it in a few times," Williams said.
Aiden is 14 years old, 5 feet tall and 115 pounds of energy and love.
"How are you treated by the De Smet students? Like every," Cusumano asked.
"Every single person loves me," Aiden said.
And they really loved Aiden on Friday during spirit week when he was asked to sink his famous half-court shot.
"He's waving his arms like this, getting everybody hyped. And then, you know, everybody's paying attention. Everybody's chanting Aiden!" Raga said.
"That was one of those things that you're not really prepared for. Just the reaction of our students is pretty awesome," Williams said.
"I was afraid you're going to get trampled. But he ended up being okay," Raga said.
"If the teachers wouldn't have stopped and they probably would have raised him up, put him on his shoulders or something like that, but definitely like a 'Rudy' moment," Williams said.
"Seeing someone like Aiden do it and everybody, like, cheer them on. Everybody wants him to succeed is something really cool to see and that he just had a moment for himself and everybody really enjoyed the moment," Raga said.