Will Smith gives shoutout to Philly's Sports Illustrated SportsKid of the Year

A Philadelphia teen received a big honor and a big shoutout.

Actor and rapper Will Smith shouted out Reece Whitley at the Sports Illustrated gala in New York City Tuesday night.

"Where's Reece, there's my man. Are you from Philly? Philly is in the building!" Smith said at the podium.

He then left the stage and went into the crowd to give Whitley a hug.

Whitley was honored as the magazine's SportsKid of the Year for breaking records and barriers in the sport of swimming.

Smith decide to challenge the standout athlete.

"I didn't know how to swim my whole life so literally like two years ago, I learned how to swim. But I'm good, so, the Hudson is over there. So if you wanted to race," Smith said with a laugh.

Whitley will grace the cover of Sports Illustrated Kids, an honor achieved by fellow Philadelphian Mon'e Davis last year.