Opening Scene – Game One, College DebutThe crowd inside Watsco Center buzzed like a hive.
The season opener.
Miami vs. Syracuse.
All eyes on the kid who'd vanished for a year.
Kyle stood just behind the free throw line during warmups, flexing his taped left knee.
6'9", lean, long, with new muscle in his frame and fire in his stare.
Coach Montgomery patted his back.
"No cape. No crown. Just minutes. Earn 'em."
Kyle nodded.
Then the announcer roared over the mic:
"AND MAKING HIS LONG-AWAITED DEBUT… NUMBER 13… KYLLLLLLEEEE WILSOOOONNNN!!!"
The fans erupted.
The First Quarter – Rust & RhythmKyle checked in at the 5-minute mark.
His first few possessions? Ugly.
Fumbled a rebound.
Hesitated on a wide-open jumper.
Missed a rotation on D.
But then…
A fastbreak.
He trailed the point guard, took the no-look pass—and BOOM.
A one-handed tomahawk slam.
The gym went nuclear.
Ari screamed from the crowd, holding up a handmade sign that read:
"KYONIC RISES."
By the second half, Kyle found rhythm:
Contested midrange jumper? Swish.
Help defense block at the rim? Clean.
And a steal turned into a coast-to-coast dunk.
Final stat line:
17 points, 8 rebounds, 2 blocks, 1 steal in 22 minutes.
Kyle sat down postgame, soaked in sweat, the crowd chanting:
"REE-PER! REE-PER! REE-PER!"
Montage – The Comeback TrailGame 4 vs. Duke: Kyle locks up a projected lottery pick, holds him to 8 points.
Game 9 vs. UNC: Kyle puts up 22 & 10 with 3 blocks.
Game 13: Miami wins in OT after Kyle's clutch three from the corner.
Kyle climbs mock drafts from NR to projected late 1st by mid-January.
Kyonic starts appearing in college merch shops.
Students rock custom hoodies with his flame logo.
Ari manages every release drop—selling out sizes in hours.
Locker Room GrowthKyle grows into a leader—quiet, but commanding.
He pulls freshman aside for extra reps.
Stays late. Watches film. Learns tendencies.
The team begins to follow him.
Marcus texts after every game:
"See what patience built?"
Kyle replies:
"I'm just getting started."
Romance Interlude – Kyle & AriBack in his dorm, Kyle laid with Ari, her head on his chest, scrolling through her agency intern offers.
"L.A. wants me again. Chicago too."
"You thinking of leaving?"
"Not without you."
"You got dreams."
"So do you. I'm not giving up mine—I'm building ours."
They kissed.
"We're both up next," Kyle whispered.
Scene – Watching Zion & Ja Get DraftedThat June, Kyle and Ari sat in the dark, TV glowing.
"With the first pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, the New Orleans Pelicans select…
Zion Williamson."
Zion, dapping up family. Crying.
Kyle's eyes narrowed—not with jealousy, but focus.
"That's the bar," he said.
Next:
"With the second pick, the Memphis Grizzlies select…
Ja Morant."
Ari glanced at him.
"That should've been you."
Kyle shook his head.
"That will be me."
Summer Work – Going Pro Behind the ScenesAfter the season ended (Miami made it to the second round of March Madness), Kyle skipped vacation.
He hit training camp with a vengeance:
6AM weight sessions
Daily skills workouts
Film room grind
Strategic media control
His statline for the season:
12.7 PPG
7.4 RPG
1.8 BPG
38% from 3
55% from the field
All-ACC Defensive Team
Ari's Brand AscendsAri now had her own client roster—D2 kids, international hopefuls, even a WNBA prospect.
She was seen as a prodigy: 19, brilliant, relentless.
Kyonic merged with a boutique design firm in Brooklyn.
Reaper II prototypes were being tested for release.
Foot Locker called.
"We want 1,000 pairs in July."
Kyle called her that night.
"You killing it."
"So are you."
"I'm thinking it's time."
"For what?"
"The next step."
Final Scene – DeclarationKyle set up a livestream with Marcus and Ari beside him.
"Two years ago, I had to learn patience. Last year, I earned my shot. This year?"
He leaned into the camera.
"I'm entering the 2020 NBA Draft. Fully healthy. Fully ready. Fully Kyonic."
"I'm not chasing names. I'm claiming mine."
"And to whoever's picking next June…
You're not just drafting a player.
You're signing a storm."