Firestone player's varsity debut leaves lasting impression - Akron Leader Publications

Firestone Community Learning Center senior forward Isaiah Corn is shown at center on the court during a game. Photo courtesy of Cindy Emerson

WEST AKRON — During the Firestone Community Learning Center boys basketball team’s final home game of the season, senior forward Isaiah Corn, who has autism, got the first varsity playing time of his career and made quite an impression.
“He got a foul shot and made it, and then he hit two [3-point shots]. So, he scored seven points in the fourth quarter and did a great job. It was just such a feel-good moment,” said Firestone varsity basketball head coach Dave Milo. “He’s a super kid who always gives it his all, and that was our final home game of the season. It was senior night, so as a senior I wanted him to dress with the varsity team. And I think he had earned some varsity time.”
Corn called playing in that game on Feb. 18 a “surreal experience.”
“I’ve been planning for this moment ever since I was on the freshman team and JV [junior varsity] teams, and I wanted to give it my all that night,” said the 17-year-old. “I’ve been practicing with the varsity team for a long time, so I wasn’t nervous at all. I’ve always prepared for those kinds of moments. It was just fun to be there in front of all my home fans, my parents and my classmates. They’ve always supported me, so I had to give them a show.”
Firestone JV head coach Paul Gegick, an intervention specialist who has coached Corn for three of his four years in high school, said the senior had never even attempted a 3-pointer in any of his other games.
“He’s played in most games and he had never done it until that night,” the coach said. “But then on senior night he comes out and hits his first two [3-pointers] and shoots 100 percent. It was pretty incredible.”
Making those 3-pointers came as a surprise to everyone but Corn himself.
“I always knew I could make those shots,” he said. “I always try to make the most meaningful shot, and in that moment I was just doing that. It was just an instinct, you know. When you’ve got it, you’ve got it.”
Gegick said Corn deserved the spotlight he received.
“He’s a joy to coach and a positive kid to have on the team,” the coach said. “He plays spot minutes for us [on the JV team], such as whenever there’s a scenario where we need a rebound or we need someone to play physical down in the paint. He’s a great lead-by-example kind of a guy and I believe he can be an inspiration for anybody.”
LeAnn Corn, who was at Firestone’s senior night with her husband, Joe, said it was emotional to see their son playing in a varsity game.
“We were crying, we were so excited,” she said. “But I knew he could do it. We’ve never sold his dreams short. We’ve always let him dream big and encouraged him. And I hope that some of those who might be feeling like they can’t do something because of a diagnosis or having some type of disability or being differently abled, as he likes to call it, will be inspired by his efforts to do whatever they want to do.”
Green head coach Mark Kinsley said he was glad to be part of the moment.
“It was a special night and we were happy for Isaiah to be able to get out there and shoot the ball as well as he did,” he said. “We talked after the game, and we were saying that a lot of times we get caught up in wins and losses, and sometimes we forget what’s really important. I think this was a night that reminded us that, yeah, basketball is important to all of us, but there are bigger things in life and we just got to experience one of those.”
According to Corn, playing high school basketball has been a positive and rewarding experience.
“I have a lot of coaches and classmates that always support me and always want what’s best for me. So, I just try to give them what I can every single night,” he said. “And you can learn a lot of things from the game. You can go to a lot of new places and you can also learn a lot of valuable lessons that will someday be beneficial to your career or what you want to do later in life. I might want to work in special education and maybe do a little bit of coaching here and there. I’m just taking things day by day.”
Next up for Corn after high school is The University of Akron, where he plans to study special education at the LeBron James Family Foundation College of Education starting this fall. And on the basketball court, Corn said he believes his hard work has paid off so far, but there is more to come.
“You have to always be ready because you never know when you will get a chance,” he said. “I have always been ready and will continue to be ready for whenever my team needs me because I’m not done yet. The grind doesn’t stop here. I have to continue to play and develop my game, and hopefully be ready for college and maybe even the NBA.”

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