A Star in the Making?
Jashuan Agosto amazes his doctors with unusual athletic abilities.
FEDERAL WAY, Wash., March 10, 2008— -- Eleven-year-old Jashuan Agosto is a kid with focus.
His 70-pound, 4-foot-9-inch body can do things most people can't fathom.
During his 300 to 400 daily jump shots and free throws on a basketball court, he rarely misses or notices the crowds.
"He's amazing. He's pretty cool to watch," said Eric Kilcup, a staff member at the Federal Way Community Center, in Federal Way, Wash. "We come in here and watch him every day."
Dribbling is another story: two balls at once, behind the back, through the legs, up and down the court with one hand, then the other. The entire time, his eyes remain locked in a concentrated stare.
That focus doesn't go away in school, either, where numbers are his game.
Agosto's fifth-grade teacher at Silver Lake Elementary School, Carrie Johnson, said he handles math just like basketball.
"He's a hard worker, very driven, doesn't give up," she said.
"When it's time for basketball, I think about basketball, and when it's school, I think about school," Agosto said.
You'd think that would be enough, but no — a few months ago Agosto's father stumbled over the fact that his son can run like the wind.
He isn't just a "good" runner — he's already clocked a four-minute, 40-second mile and he's expected to break the world record for his age group later this year.
We watched him run a mile in 4 minutes and 47 seconds without breaking a sweat.
Doctors recently discovered Agosto's aerobic capacity is off the charts: better than many professional athletes. In essence, his body provides more oxygen to his red blood cells than the average person, so it takes him longer to feel muscle fatigue.
UCLA is already watching.
The university sent him a letter saying that they want to keep tabs on his progress, but that "under NCAA rules, we cannot formally recruit you until your sophomore year."
"They've got a while to wait!!" his mom laughed.
Agosto boasts even less than he sweats — he is all about focus.