[ot-caption title=”Senior A.J. Sacks was featured on one of the most popular segments on ESPN’s Sportscenter, when his half-court trick shot landed him a spot on the Top 10 Plays. (Via Isabelle Lumb, Senior)” url=”https://pcpawprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/aj-e1422319015126.jpeg”]

People from all around the world send in videos in hopes that they make it on ESPN’s flagship program, Sportscenter. Amazingly, Pine Crest had one of its very own on ESPN as senior A.J. Sacks made a surprise appearance on Sportscenter’s “Top 10 Plays” segment.   He was the first person from Pine Crest to be featured on the show since former Panther star point guard and current NBA basketball player Brandon Knight.

A.J. got on the show by making one of the most impressive basketball trick shots ever featured on Sportscenter. It is truly difficult to describe the shot in words. A.J. corralled the ball in his right arm while it was on the floor at half-court, and then launched it into the basket while spinning around. The video was taken last Wednesday, and it aired on the Thursday edition of Sportscenter.

A.J. had practiced the shot before, but he got it on the very first try once his friends began filming, something almost unbelievable given the difficulty of the shot. This is certainly an experience that he will never forget. He commented on what his day was like after everyone saw the ridiculous shot on television. “It was incredibly fun and exciting the whole day. I felt like a celebrity.”

Normally the honor of being on Sportscenter’s Top 10 Plays does go to celebrity athletes, but in this case it went to a hard-working high school student who managed to make a shot that seemed impossible. Even the commentator on ESPN talked about how they would go anywhere to find the best plays in the country, and this search just happened to lead them to Pine Crest School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Congratulations to A.J., and who knows, maybe we haven’t seen the last of his trick shots on Sportscenter.