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On a typical day, Ezra Shelhav is up early putting up shots in the gym at the Ronald Gardenswartz Jewish Community Center of Greater sa国际传媒官网网页入口, where he works as a custodian.

But the young man with cerebral palsy, a disability affecting body movement and muscle coordination, had no idea what was in store for him on Friday for his 23rd birthday.

A group of friends, family and members of the JCC entered the gym that morning singing 鈥淗appy Birthday鈥� while holding a colorful banner that read, 鈥淗appy Birthday Ezra!鈥� before they played a basketball scrimmage.

The smile on Shelhav鈥檚 face couldn鈥檛 have been bigger when he learned of the surprise.

鈥淎 lot of people love me, and I really appreciate it,鈥� Shelhav said.

On Friday morning, he was energetic on the basketball court with 鈥淭eam Ezra,鈥� who all wore T-shirts bearing the team鈥檚 name. Shelhav, who donned the No. 33 on his shirt, displayed eyes of intense athletic competition.

Shelhav has worked for three years as a staff member responsible for cleaning the gym and fitness equipment upstairs, according to Susanna Pier, fitness and wellness director for the JCC.

Pier described Shelhav as a special member of the JCC who is loved by everyone, and his cleaning abilities are top-notch.

鈥�(He鈥檚) the hardest worker ever; he鈥檚 very meticulous,鈥� Pier said while cheering members of 鈥淭eam Ezra鈥� during the scrimmage.

Shelhav鈥檚 parents, Shai and Laura Shelhav, attended the event wearing 鈥淭eam Ezra鈥� T-shirts and cheering on the team with pompoms in between bites of chocolate cake.

Laura Shelhav said the JCC鈥檚 surprise speaks to the generosity and support its employees show him.

She described her son as a 鈥渞emarkable鈥� and 鈥渄etermined鈥� man for his daily workout routine and his love of the game of basketball.

Chris Blackwell, a personal trainer who attended the scrimmage, is close to Shelhav, working out with him and debating over who in professional sports is the GOAT (Greatest of All Time).

鈥淗e鈥檚 my boy; he鈥檚 my guy,鈥� Blackwell said. 鈥淗e has dreams of being the best basketball player he can be.鈥�

Shelhav, who has played for the Special Olympics team, said he wants to join The NBA G League. He added that he is trying to find a team to play for, but it is difficult to do.

鈥淧laying with a disability, I don鈥檛 see it as a disability; it鈥檚 just a different ability,鈥� Shelhav said.

Others, including former University of New Mexico head women鈥檚 basketball coach Don Flanagan, are impressed with Ezra Shelhav鈥檚 athletic abilities. Flanagan, who coached the Lobos from 1995 to 2011, said what stands out to him the most is the young man鈥檚 desire to play basketball every day.

鈥淗e鈥檚 a great model for effort,鈥� Flanagan said. 鈥淚鈥檝e seen a lot of players that play at a very high level that don鈥檛 love it as much as he does.鈥�