Chapter 8: Developments Everywhere
{This story is ready to read on my P-a-t-r-e-o-n. If you wish to read ahead then the link is https://www.p-a-t-r-e-o-n.com/easyread. Be sure to remove the dashes. I hope to see plenty of you there and enjoying this novel.}
I enter coach Rodger's office and take a seat on a chair. He takes a seat on his chair behind his desk and looks at me. "You are much better than I thought you were, and once word gets out about tonight. More and more interest in our games will build up. We have 4 more Scrimmage games before the regular season starts, and this team needs to learn out to win." I don't really know where he's going with this. "I'm going to be making you the focal point of our offense, and that means there is going to be even more pressure on you in upcoming games." I look at the individual pictures of players in the room and see John Foe on the wall. Rodgers turns his head and looks at what I'm looking at. He sighs as he sees my concern.
I stand up and stretch a little. "I don't think the star point guard and total asshat of our team is going to like that very much. We both know that he even might quit. Let's not forget all of his followers. He might even take some good hoopers with him. You're the boss, man, and I'm not going to tell you how to run this team because I have no business or know-how. However, I think a discussion with John about this change is warranted." He takes a contemplating look, and he nods his head in agreement.
He waves that I can leave now, and I do. As I'm walking back to my locker, I can see many of the players' faces. I get a tap on my shoulder, and I turn around to see John and Kenny. "You had a lucky night. No one shoots 100% from everywhere. Don't let it go to your head." I sigh as I'm really getting tired of this little game. I have nothing to prove to these kids. They only have things to prove to themselves. I pack up my things and head out of the gym. I'm going to take a shower at home. As I'm walking towards the exit, I see that cute blond girl that always has John's attention talking to Ellie. I walk up to them as they finish talking.
I turn to look at the girl. She smiles and holds out her hand. "My name is Brooke. I watched your game, and you were amazing." I reach out and shake her hand. She is kind and has a gentle voice. She doesn't look like the one to cause trouble on purpose. I don't fully know her yet, though, so I'll hold off and a complete determination on her. "I was talking to your mom. She was easy to find cause whenever you made a basket. She was the loudest." I look at Ellie, and I smile. She shrugs her shoulders and looks away innocently. "I'm going to go and see how my friend is doing. John had a hard game. He needs some support." She smiles at us both and makes her way to the gym to wait for John.
She is definitely close to John, but I think the love is only one way. Either John can't see that she doesn't feel that way, or he doesn't want to. It isn't my place. "Let's go home, sweetheart. You need a shower." I chuckle as we both leave the school and head for the car. I think I made an amazing showing for my first game ever.
~~~Next Morning, Local radio podcast about basketball. Listeners 90,000~~~
~~~POV Leonard Feer~~~
I look at the reports about basketball in the Oregon state and see the results of the first scrimmage games. A single name jumps out to me, Ulysses Kennedy. He scored 37 points, 11 rebounds, 5 blocks, and 4 assists. He is a 6'5 14-year-old freshman. He plays as a starter for Holden Highschool. The most incredible thing is how well he shot, 100% from everywhere. I have a feeling this kid is going to be big.
So I'm going to start the Saturday morning off with him. No one knows about him yet. So I'm thinking about a nickname, and a perfect one springs to mind. "Good morning, Oregon basketball fans! We have plenty of news today since the first scrimmage games have been played!" I know the perfect way to approach this.
I take a sip of coffee and prepare. "An amazing young player by the name of Ulysses Kennedy has popped up in Holden, Oregon. Yesterday's game was his first ever for the 14-year-old freshman, and he stands at a lengthy 6'5 already." Looking at his stats makes it unbelievable. "He scored 37 points, 11 rebounds, 5 blocks, and 4 assists. As a side note, 32 of his points came after half-time in the 3rd and 4th quarters." I look at the chat and see some people asking questions and talking about the performance. "That isn't all folks. He shot 100% from the field and didn't miss a single shot." I'm going to drop the nickname I came up with for him.
As the chat explodes at that revelation. I take my shot. "I've never seen anything like this before, kind of like a black hole. A Singularity, he was The Singularity last night." The chat blows up, and I post a tweet with some of his game highlights with the hashtag The Singularity." Many of my followers retweet it, and his highlights are already floating around the Twitterverse. I see something in this kid, the way he moves, and shoots. He has something under the surface, waiting to be let out.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone