Man with Down syndrome goes viral for his basketball skills

A California man with Down syndrome has become a viral sensation for his basketball skills.Tyler Kihano, who is nonverbal, took on the sport as a way to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic, and now, his ability to shoot three-pointers is shining a light on the man who helped him perfect his skills. Watch Kihano play ball in the video above.Eli Goldstein started as Kihano's caregiver, and now, he's also his fitness coach, basketball buddy and enthusiastic cheerleader."When we started playing more ball, he's gotten so much better, right bud, you're chasing the rebounds," Goldstein said. "Sprinting all over the court. So much more agile than he used to be. He's down 45 pounds." Goldstein first posted videos of Kihano shooting three-pointers last Halloween. The video received 3 million views. On Instagram, this duo is known as @strongnable and they have 26,000 followers."Strong and able is a way for us to show that, you know, people like Tyler, people with all kinds of special needs — Down syndrome, autism, whatever — they got abilities greater than yours and mine a lot of the time. Which is pretty plain to see with Tyler here because he's got a shot I couldn't match any day in my life," Goldstein said. The nonprofit regional center of Orange County, which supports Kihano and others with disabilities, has awarded Goldstein with its Spotlight Award for his work with Kihano.

LAKE FOREST, Calif. —

A California man with Down syndrome has become a viral sensation for his basketball skills.

Tyler Kihano, who is nonverbal, took on the sport as a way to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic, and now, his ability to shoot three-pointers is shining a light on the man who helped him perfect his skills.

Watch Kihano play ball in the video above.

Eli Goldstein started as Kihano's caregiver, and now, he's also his fitness coach, basketball buddy and enthusiastic cheerleader.

"When we started playing more ball, he's gotten so much better, right bud, you're chasing the rebounds," Goldstein said. "Sprinting all over the court. So much more agile than he used to be. He's down 45 pounds."

Goldstein first posted videos of Kihano shooting three-pointers last Halloween. The video received 3 million views. On Instagram, this duo is known as @strongnable and they have 26,000 followers.

"Strong and able is a way for us to show that, you know, people like Tyler, people with all kinds of special needs — Down syndrome, autism, whatever — they got abilities greater than yours and mine a lot of the time. Which is pretty plain to see with Tyler here because he's got a shot I couldn't match any day in my life," Goldstein said.

The nonprofit regional center of Orange County, which supports Kihano and others with disabilities, has awarded Goldstein with its Spotlight Award for his work with Kihano.