A 13-year-old born with a rare, incurable disease was honored at his middle school by a star Globetrotter.
ISELIN-- Clapping along and waving their hands, the entire gymnasium was entranced by the voice of 13-year-old Sparsh Shah, a local singer born with a rare, incurable disease, who was honored Monday by the Harlem Globetrotters.
Shah -- who sang a rendition of Eminem's "Not Afraid" -- was born with a disease that causes his bones to be extremely brittle.
The Ambassadors of Goodwill -- as the Globetrotters are also known -- saw Shah on the internet.
Star player Zeus McClurkin visited Iselin Middle School to honor him as "Globetrotter Junior Phenom" for his incredible singing ability and hard work ethic.
Shah's rendition of the "National Anthem" before a recent New York Knicks game also went viral.
Before wowing the crowd with his basketball tricks and a crowd-roaring dunk, McClurkin spoke to students about hard work and being a good person, which he said were the most important things about being a Globetrotter.
The visit was part of the Globetrotters' CHEER program (Cooperation, Healthy mind and body, Effort, Enthusiasm, Responsibility), which he said Shah embodied.
The Globetrotters seek out inspiring stories of youngsters who generate their own goodwill, bring a positive attitude and assist in their community.
After performing three songs, Shah said despite all the challenges he's faced, what keeps him going is the positive reaction to his music.
"As long as I see that they have a smile on their face, and are thankful for everything they do ... whether they are down in the dumps or whether they're on cloud nine," he said, with his father, Hiren Shah, by his side.
Before leaving, McClurkin said, "We get an opportunity to put smiles on people's faces everywhere that we go, and that's exactly what Sparsh has been doing. And you can't help but smile when you see that little kid."
The middle school's principal, Kelly Cilento, said she was amazed by Shah's voice and was proud of all that he has been able to overcome.
The Globetrotters invited Shah to sing "God Bless America" at the Harlem Globetrotters game at Madison Square Garden on Feb. 20 at 6 p.m.
Spencer Kent may be reached at skent@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SpencerMKent. Find the Find NJ.com on Facebook.