I woke up still thinking about yesterday's conversation with Coach Martin from USC. The call had gone better than I'd expected, and I couldn't shake the feeling that things were starting to move fast.
Stay focused. One step at a time.
Summer training was hitting different now. Every rep in the weight room, every route I ran, every catch I made felt like it mattered more. Not just for our team, but for my future.
I threw on my workout gear and headed to the campus gym. The voluntary summer schedule meant we could train when we wanted, but most of us were still showing up every day. That's what separated real players from the ones who just talked.
Tyler was already there, working through his route-running drills with the agility ladder.
"Yo, you sleep alright?" he asked, not breaking his rhythm. "You looked like you had a lot on your mind yesterday after that meeting."
"Yeah, just processing everything," I said, grabbing some resistance bands. "This whole recruiting thing is new territory."
Can't tell him about the USC call yet.
Cameron and Derek walked in together, both looking focused and ready to work. Summer training without the structure of classes meant we had to be self-motivated, and our whole group had been showing up consistently.
"USC camp is two and a half weeks away," Cameron said, stretching his hamstrings. "Y'all ready to compete against the best players on the West Coast?"
"Been ready," Derek replied. "Question is whether they ready for us."
That's the confidence we need.
Alex joined us looking more comfortable than he had since transferring from Texas. The summer training had helped him mesh with our system, and his timing was getting better every day.
"Coach Martinez wants us running full routes today," Alex said. "Said we need to be sharp for 7-on-7 tournament this weekend."
Good. Competition keeps us honest.
We spent the next two hours grinding through position-specific drills. Route running, release techniques, catching balls in traffic - everything we'd need to dominate at USC camp and beyond.
Coach Martinez was pushing us hard, but it was the kind of work that built champions.
"Excellence is a habit!" he yelled as we finished our final catching drill. "You can't turn it on and off when you feel like it!"
After training, I headed to the dining hall where Joey and Mason were sitting with some of the other freshmen. Since it was summer, the dining hall was less crowded, but our core group still ate together most days.
"Yo, Jakari," Joey called out as I sat down with my tray. "You see the highlights from that 7-on-7 tournament in Orange County yesterday?"
"Nah, what happened?"
"Some of those USC camp guys were there," Mason said quietly. "They looked good, but nothing we can't handle."
Confidence from the young guys. I like that.
"That's the right mindset," I said. "We're not going to camp to be impressed. We're going to make an impression."
Tyler and the older guys joined us, and the conversation shifted to our summer schedule. More tournaments, individual training sessions, and team chemistry building.
"Coach Rivera wants us doing more group activities," Cameron said. "Movie nights, team dinners, stuff to build chemistry outside of football."
"Smart," Derek agreed. "We're gonna be representing Malibu Prep as a unit. Need to be tight on and off the field."
Chemistry wins championships.
After lunch, I had some free time, so I decided to call Dre and check on how his basketball situation was going.
"Yo, what's good?" Dre answered.
"Just finished training. How's varsity practice treating you?"
"Man, it's different. These dudes been playing together for years, but I'm starting to find my rhythm. Had a good scrimmage yesterday."
"That's what I want to hear. You been working with that dude who was helping you?"
"Terrell? Yeah, when he's sober. Dude's got knowledge, but he's got his own demons, you know?"
Everyone's fighting their own battles.
"Just stay focused on your path, bro. You got the talent."
"I know. How things going out there? Heard you might have some college interest."
"Little bit. USC camp is coming up in a couple weeks. That's the real test."
"USC? Damn, that's major. You ready?"
"Getting there. Just gotta keep working and trust the process."
After hanging up with Dre, I realized how much my perspective had changed. months ago, I was just trying to make friends at a new school. Now I was having conversations with college coaches and preparing for one of the biggest camps on the West Coast.
The work is paying off.
I spent the rest of the afternoon in the film room, studying USC's offensive system and the type of receivers they recruited. Knowledge was power, and I wanted to be as prepared as possible.
My phone buzzed with a text from Isabella.
Isabella: How was training today? You seemed quiet last night
Me: Good training. Just got a lot on my mind with camp coming up
Isabella: Want to talk about it? Free for dinner
Me: Yeah, let's do it. 6 PM at the usual spot?
Isabella: See you there ❤️
She knows me too well.
As I headed back to my dorm to shower and change, I thought about how blessed I was to have people who genuinely cared about me. Family back home, teammates who were becoming brothers, coaches who believed in me, and a girlfriend who supported my dreams.
This is bigger than just football.
USC camp was getting closer, and with it, the opportunity to prove that our little private school in Malibu could compete with anyone. But more than that, it was a chance to show that all the work, all the sacrifice, all the believing was worth it.
Two and a half weeks. Time to get ready.
The summer heat was building, but so was our momentum. Soon, we'd find out if we were ready for the next level.