Chapter 9: Something unexpected
{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 get out of the shower and head to my bedroom. I could hear my phone blowing up when I was cleaning myself. I pick it up and see that I'm getting messages from people I don't even know. I go on Twitter, where all the messages are coming from, and I see what the commotion is about. Someone posted my game on Twitter, the highlights at least. There are links to full game highlights on youtube, too, from notable channels. I didn't even know I was being recorded.
I turn my notifications off and finish drying off. I get dressed in some park clothes, and I pick up my basketball. I make my way downstairs, and as I do, I hear Ellie talking to someone. I enter the living room and see a man in a suit. They both put their coffee down as I see them. "Ulysses, this is Grant Leo. He told me he was in charge of a basketball youth development program in California." I don't know who this guy is, and why would he come all the way from California in a single morning? He must have taken a really early flight.
Ellie stands up and walks over to me. "We were talking about your game last night. Perhaps you would like to join us?" She is trying her hardest to convince me. I don't know this guy. He just shows up out of nowhere and want's to talk about me. Want's to talk to me. "Just hear what he has to say. He isn't here to cause any trouble." I look at Ellie. These types of guys make so much money off kids like me. Talents they can exploit for cash, just like the colleges.
He stands up and fixes his suit. He reaches out his hand and waits for me to shake it. "You're wasting your time here, Mr. Loe. I'd appreciate it if you and your people left me alone. Now I have a park to get to, and don't ask my mom any more questions." I turn and leave him hanging. I'm not interested in any league in California. It's a place where you lose everything while everyone exploits you. It's much safer here in Holden.
~~~POV Ellie~~~
I sigh as I watch Ulysses leave. I turn to Mr. Leo and see that he isn't all that surprised. "You have an amazing kid. I've never seen a basketball player with his talent before, it was just one game, but you could see what he is and what he'll become." I look towards the door and worry for Ulysses. I can't help it. He is all the family I have left. "You need to be prepared. After he plays more and more, he'll be getting swamped with offers. Once he reaches junior year and senior year, things will get much harder." I knew he has a basketball gift, but never anything to this degree.
Mr. Leo says his goodbyes and leaves. I take a seat on the couch and relax. I hope what he said isn't true. Ulysses won't be interested in anything they have to say right now. He is just a freshman in high school. I turn on the T.V. and go to ESPN. Some of my friends told me to watch it, and I see them playing some highlights from his game. It's a segment called Jalen and Jacoby. I'm not a sports girl, but I know that ESPN is a big network.
I turn up the volume to hear what they are saying. "This kid is going to be something special. He already has a nickname going around, and everyone who knows basketball can see what that game meant. It's the beginning of a new generational talent. He is only 14 years old and can play like that, not to mention he is 6'5. So he isn't done growing." I turn off the T.V. and rub my temple. Everything was normal for a time. Now it's not going to be for a very long time.
~~~Timeskip, Senior Year of Holden Highschool~~~
~~~POV Ulysses Kennedy~~~
I lace up my shoes, ready for my morning run. I've come so far in the last 3 and change years. I'm 17 now, and I'm standing at 7'1 with shoes on. My game has developed and changed so much. The biggest change has been the attention I've gained. So many people come to my games, so many men in suits and people with cameras. I'm the interest in the basketball world. Some of the league's best players have retired by now. The notable ones being Lebron James and Kevin Durant. They both finished their careers with 5 rings and are now no longer playing.
I always wanted to play against them, but that won't happen. Some NBA players even came to my high school games Junior year. My high school senior year has just started, and I'm the team captain now. John and Kennedy have both gone off to college on scholarships. I pull up my stats before I go for a run.
[Ulysses Kennedy]
[Class - The Singularity] [Legendary]
[Age 17, birthday January 24th, 2008]
[Shooting- S-] [Dribbling- A] [Passing- A+] [Speed- A+] [Defense- A+] [Lateral Quickness- A-] [Dunking- S] [Rebounding- A] [Endurance- S+] [Current Height- 6'11 without shoes] [Wingspan- 7'6] [Weight- 245 Lbs.]
[Badges]
[Quick learner][A] [Shooters Touch][A+] [One of a Kind][S+] [Incredible Work Eithic][B+] [Dribbling Talent][A+] [Deadeye][A] [Limitless Range][A+] [Lockdown Defender][A+] [Heartbreaker][A] [Deep Impact][S] [Highlight Reel][A+] [Ankle Breaker][A] [Post-move Master][A] [Moving Fadeaway][A+] [Deep Range Deadeye][S]
This high school year is going to be a fun one.
[A/N: The story will slow down at this point, and I will make sure that games are detailed and talk shows about Ulysses are detailed. Thanks for reading!]
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