Hawthorn Woods 12-year-old who topped ESPN contest heading to Maui

Sam Holtz is going to Hawaii after all.

The Hawthorn Woods 12-year-old who became a overnight sensation nationwide after he tied for first in the ESPN Tournament Challenge was awarded a trip for four to Maui by the Internet sports website Scout.com.

“We were actually in a grocery store when Butch got the call from Scout.com regarding the trip,” said Liz Holtz, Sam Holtz's mother. “He was so excited when his dad told him of the offer. But, what made it most special was that this was a trip that included his whole family, most importantly his brother.”

In an article on the front page of the website, Scout.com wrote, “SCOUT is sending Sam Holtz, the 12-year-old who finished in a tie for first place in ESPN's Tournament Challenge, and his family to Hawaii.”

The story says the website is booking the family of four, including Sam's older brother, Joey, for a weeklong stay at the Kaanapali Alii Resort in Maui.

SCOUT Fantasy Editor-in-Chief Matt De Lima said on the website, “We were drawn to this story because it's about two things: family and sports.”

Holtz beat out 11.5 million other entries to tie for first in the ESPN college basketball bracket contest. However, because Sam wasn't old enough to enter the contest, he was denied entry into a drawing for a $20,000 Best Buy gift card and a trip for two to the 2015 Maui Invitational college basketball tournament.

Since that news broke, Sam has received two X-Box One systems from Best Buy, a $20,000 college scholarship offer from ViSalus, and now the trip to Maui. He donated one of the X-Box games to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

“It's hard to grasp the generosity of complete strangers,” Liz Holtz said.