Charvis Brewer, an 8-year-old super-fan of the Memphis Grizzlies, was drafted as the basketball team's newest and youngest member on Sunday. The ceremony, complete with a mock press conference, team photograph and visit to the locker room, was orchestrated by Make-A-Wish, a non-profit wish-granting organization for children with life-threatening medical conditions. Charvis has cerebral palsy, a neurological condition that confines him to a wheelchair. Despite his illness, Charvis attends school and is the kind of basketball fan who can rattle off facts about his favorite team and their opponents. His mother, Colissa Brewer, and a home health aide tend to his every need. “It brought tears to my eyes,” Brewer said of the Grizzlies’ welcoming gesture. “I never imagined he would get a chance to do something like that.” Each year Make-A-Wish grants 14,000 requests, more than 1,000 of which are celebrity- and sports-related.
