The game continued like this for the next 4 minutes until the red team called a timeout for the opposing coach to rethink the strategy and swap players.
22-10 current score, yellow team in the lead.
Aaron Reed, game statistics:
Points: 10
Rebounds: 3
Assists: 4
Blocks: 1
If anyone looked closely, Aaron had practically contributed to almost 100% of the points scored in the game; something unheard of considering he was playing alongside 10th and 11th-grade teammates.
Once Aaron approached the circle where Coach Derrick was, he saw the guys on the team make space for him as he headed toward the center of the circle, as if there were a tacit understanding of who the team leader was.
"Good job guys, keep it up," Derrick said with a smile while his gaze was fixed exclusively on Aaron, and for good reason.
With the numbers he showed in just 4 minutes of play, he couldn't help but imagine what it would be like when he played a full game in the CHSAA.
"Aaron, I'm putting you on the bench," he said while directing a look at Aaron.
At that simple phrase, Derrick saw the faces of the players on his team go from joy to confusion and incredulity upon realizing the words the coach had said.
"Did I do something wrong?" was Aaron's simple question, but not in an angry tone but with a nearly cold calm, as if that mere phrase hadn't mattered to him.
"On the contrary," Derrick said, giving him a smile. "But I must give the rest of the team a chance to play, and I need you at 100% for when we play against the green team," Derrick finished saying, hoping Aaron understood the reason why he was taking him off the court in the middle of the quarter.
"Understood," was Aaron's simple response as he grabbed a towel and a bottle and sat down, controlling his breathing to reach the best possible condition for the next game. At that, his gaze couldn't help but settle on the green team and, most of all, toward Coach Joe, who was looking at him equally.
Then his gaze settled on the green players and he could see different emotions in their eyes: incredulity, apprehension, and perhaps even a slight trace of danger toward him, fearing that he could take their starting spots; and they weren't wrong.
After that, his gaze settled on the recruiters; he could see them this time paying more attention to him while taking notes in their notebooks.
Recruiters POV
"Did you see that, Phil?" the Fairfield recruiter said to Phil, the UConn recruiter.
"I saw it clearly, Larry," Phil said, just as surprised as his old friend.
And since both are recruiters for Connecticut universities, it is not uncommon to see them both together watching and studying the same players.
But of course, both are not in the same league; if the UConn Huskies compete in the Big East Conference, one of the most high-profile and competitive conferences in the country, the Fairfield Stags compete in the MAAC which, while still a D1 conference, does not have the same competitiveness and exposure as the former.
"Do you have his name?" Phil asked in Larry's direction, hoping he had some information.
"I was hoping you had it," was Larry's simple response as he went over the notes he had taken.
Approximately 6' 6'' or 6' 7'', great jumping ability and court vision along with excellent shooting mechanics and great ball control.
Reference player: Pau Gasol.
Those were the notes Larry had written in his notebook after watching the last 4 minutes of play of the young man who was now on the bench with a towel and a water bottle.
"Seems like we found a hidden gem," Phil said with a smile while his gaze did not pull away from the boy in question.
"He doesn't look like a traditional center," Larry said, reviewing the way Aaron played with the no-look passes and the shots.
"You're right," Phil replied. "But that makes him even more interesting."
"His no-look passes reminded me a bit of Magic," Larry said, remembering that pass to the small forward while looking at the shooting guard.
"You're right, maybe he's a fan or his natural position is point guard," Phil said, giving his analysis based on what he saw.
"A point guard over 6'6'' is not bad, it gives him more range of vision than a small point guard," Larry added.
"Or he's simply a center who knows how to shoot and pass the ball like a guard," Phil said, giving another point of view.
"A center like that has never been seen," Larry said with a frown, trying to remember if there was ever a player like that.
"Well, maybe we are seeing the beginning of a new era," Phil finished saying with a smile while his attention returned to the court.
Years later, in an interview, Phil was asked what he thought about Aaron, to which he replied: "When I saw him for the first time, I knew I was witnessing the start of a revolution for the NBA and I wasn't wrong," he finished saying with a smile.
Back on the court, the game had just finished and the score was: 40-31, final score. Winner: yellow team.
Once Aaron sat down, the red team was able to close the gap with the yellow team, but unfortunately, there wasn't enough time, so they ended up losing by a difference of 9 points.
Once the game finished, all the players entered the court to shake hands as a sign of a good game.
"You played well, friend," Aaron said to a dejected Drew.
"We lost," was Drew's simple response.
"Cheer up, at least I think you'll be on the team," Aaron said, giving his opinion after watching the last 4 minutes of the game. And Drew had good vision and decent ball handling, so he wouldn't have a problem playing with the freshmen.
"Do you mean it?" Drew asked, this time with a smile on his face.
"I mean it, dude," Aaron said as he patted Drew on the shoulder.
After that, they continued talking until they saw Coach Joe approaching, followed by the green players.
"Let's start the next game," Coach Joe said to everyone as he positioned himself on the court line and the green team took positions.
After that, Aaron was seen again in the center, but with a more serious look on his face upon seeing his rival in the opening jump.
"Don't worry kid, I'll be gentle," Dominykas said with a threatening smile as he flexed his muscles.
Aaron had a serious look on his face, knowing that this time it wouldn't be as simple as before because, although Aaron and Dominykas were almost the same height, the difference in weight and muscle made Aaron at a disadvantage.
"Fiiuu!" the sound of the whistle was heard, starting the game.
This time both players jumped but, although Aaron had a great jump again, this time he was seen bothered by the strength of the person next to him and, even with the greatest effort, Aaron lost the opening jump.
Without flinching, Aaron headed straight under his post while the green team organized the play.
"Pass me the ball," Maurice ordered as he demanded the ball.
"Let's take you down a notch, kid," Maurice said, heading straight toward Aaron while the rest of the players, as if they understood that the two stars of both teams planned to face each other, stepped back, leaving them both in a one-on-one.
While dribbling, Maurice pressed against Aaron and, taking advantage of his greater strength, began to dribble the ball while keeping Aaron at bay, pushing him with his hip toward the hoop.
"You're not that big of a deal," Maurice couldn't help but mock as he easily moved to get under the hoop.
Then, trying to humiliate Aaron more, he initiated contact to then turn and try to do a fadeaway; but to Maurice's surprise and incredulity, he saw how Aaron, despite being out of balance, managed to jump.
"It can't be," Maurice said as he saw how Aaron's fingertips affected the trajectory of the ball, causing the shot to miss and bounce.
Once the ball bounced, without wasting time Aaron caught the rebound and set off to run the whole court toward the opposite hoop, but as he ran he found himself blocked by the opposing players.
"Where do you think you're going?" Roland said as he stood in the way.
Without saying a word, Aaron began to fake with the ball as he passed the ball behind his back, trying to knock Roland off balance until an idea crossed his head.
Dribbling and making sharp changes in both directions, he saw how Roland unconsciously opened his legs and that was the moment when Aaron passed the ball under his legs to then end up under the opposite hoop and, with rage, Aaron jumped high and slammed the ball with both hands under the hoop.
Silence.
That was the only thing happening in the gym at that moment while everyone looked at Aaron still hanging from the basketball hoop.
Then, without saying a word, he unhooked himself and headed jogging toward his side of the court without looking at the green team players at any moment.
2-0 yellow team in the lead.
"Bastard," Maurice muttered with rage, feeling humiliated by a 9th-grade student.
"The games are over," Maurice finished saying with a serious look on his face, ready to restart the play.
Resuming the game, Aaron saw that now the green team was more focused and concentrated on the game, as if before they simply hadn't been giving 100% of their capabilities.
This time the point guard Corey Edwards passed the ball to the green team shooting guard Omar Calhoun while he took charge of bringing the ball up to the other side of the court.
As he went up with the ball, he saw someone looming in front of him and saw it was none other than Aaron.
"Let's have some fun together, dude," Omar said as he tried to shake Aaron off with some fakes.
Then, at one point being at the 3-point line, Omar made a fake that he was going to jump. The moment Aaron saw him flexing his legs, trying to foresee the shot he decided to jump to block his vision of the basket, but it was all a deception.
The moment Omar saw Aaron jump, he simply passed him by to then see how he was flanked by the rival point guard and small forward; but before he could lose the ball he threw a pass to Maurice, who was at the other end of the court.
Once Maurice received the ball and saw that he was free, he calmly performed a jumper, jumping in suspension and gaining height to then throw the ball.
"Fush!" was the clean sound of the basket indicating that the ball entered cleanly.
2-3 green team up.
After that, a smug smile was seen on Maurice as he was celebrated by his teammates and directed a look of superiority at Aaron.
"Fine," Aaron said without losing his calm or falling for Maurice's provocations.
This time, resuming the game, Aaron received the ball and set out again to charge straight toward the rival hoop.
"Not so fast, kid," Dominykas said, blocking Aaron's path.
Then both collided with each other, but Aaron was at a disadvantage due to the muscle difference; nonetheless, Aaron already had a plan in mind for that.
As soon as he saw how Dominykas leaned more and more toward him, Aaron decided to simply take a step back, causing Dominykas to briefly lose his balance, giving Aaron a clear path to the hoop.
But it wasn't free of obstacles, as Roland Brown could be seen running toward him and jumping at the same time.
But once suspended in the air, Aaron switched the ball to his other hand as he collided with Roland and scored 2 points with a layup.
"Fiiu!" the whistle of Coach Artie was heard. "2+1!" was the simple phrase he said before giving the ball to Aaron.
Getting on the free-throw line and without blinking, Aaron threw the ball cleanly, and it entered the net.
5-3 yellow team up.
After that, before the game resumed, Coach Joe's voice was heard.
"Reed!" he shouted toward Aaron.
Once he caught Aaron's attention, he said nothing more than simply:
"You and Brown swap jerseys; you'll play the rest of the game as power forward."
At that, in his mind, Aaron thought: "Me as a power forward?".
Author thoughts
What do you think of today chapter
Do you guys like the way I write the basketball games?