Rebound: A 2nd Chance

Just about ten minutes before Kyle arrived in the gym. There was a man with an overly serious facial expression holding a camera in his hand as he sat among the crowd.

He had short brown hair that was styled neat and tidy. He looked to be in his late thirties or early forties as there weren't any wrinkles or signs of advanced aging on his face.

He was dressed in a dark blue button up shirt and a nice pair of jeans. Combined with his tanned skin tone it helped to give him the impression of a rugged cowboy from the midwest.

Another man walked over and took a seat next to him "Well if it isn't old Billy Hinrich. What's a high school coach like you doing at a middle school game like this?"

Billy didn't even shift his eyes over as he kept his focus on Jefferson's bench "You already know what I'm here for Troy.

I'm assuming it's the same reason why the assistant coach for Los Angeles' best high school basketball team is here.

Don't you guys already have enough talent? You already swooped in and stole Jerome Bonner. Can't you leave some talent for the rest of us? Other coaches and scouts have to eat to you know."

Troy was about 6'1 (1.85m). He had a sturdy build that made it obvious that he went to the gym and cared for his health.

He was dressed in jeans and a plain white shirt. His medium length blonde hair was combed back. He looked to be a good bit younger than Billy.

Troy patted Billy on the shoulder a few times as he laughed "Hahaha for someone that doesn't smile all that much you have a hell of a sense of humor Billy.

You know how this game works. It's a dog eat dog world out here in the coaching biz. There's no such thing as taking it easy."

Billy scoffed before going silent. He continued to monitor Jefferson's bench. Troy smiled "Oh come on Billy. Are you really about to give me the cold shoulder?

Are you still hung up on Jerome Bonner? You lost him fair and square. If you guys really wanted him that bad you should have just upped your game."

The vein on the side of Billy's head began to throb 'Fucking hell! Please just fucking go sit somewhere else.

I swear this guys is the worst out of all the others. If he loses he has a thousand excuses and when he wins he makes sure to rub it in your face every opportunity he gets.'

After a few more minutes passed by the teams lined up and shook hands before positioning themselves for the tip off.

Billy raised his camera and began recording. Kyle once again managed to easily secure the first possession as he smacked the ball over to his team.

It looked like their opponent did all their homework as before Kyle could even turn around he already had a defender on him. Preventing him from scoring an easy bucket with a dunk.

Billy continued to record the game as he focused on Jason who currently had the ball in his hands.

Jason stopped at the top of the perimeter and threw out a signal as he called for a play. Kyle came out to the perimeter.

Jason tossed him the ball and then ran by him for the hand off. Instead of setting a screen for Matt and following the normal progression of the play Jason began driving to the paint.

The Center on the opposing team noticed him making his way to the paint so he left Kyle alone as he moved up to cover Jason.

Jason saw this and threw up a floater before the Center could get close enough to provide any defensive pressure.

Troy whistled in amazement "Kid is something else. Not everyone has a floater this early in their game.

And I heard that he only started playing organized basketball a couple of months ago? Geez, some guys just have all the luck huh?"

Bill didn't say anything as he continued to film the game. Troy sighed "I know I said that it was a dog eat dog world but we can at least make small talk can't we?

This is going to be a boring two hours if we just sit and watch the game. We already know who's going to win. At least we can kill some of the boredom with some barbershop talk."

Despite his dislike for Troy after a few moments of silence Billy caved in "Who do you think is going to win?"

Troy put his hands behind his head and leaned back a bit as he smiled "We all know that Jefferson is going to win.

They just lost their coach recently and that might have shaken up some of their players but their talent more than makes up for that.

They don't have anyone to coach them tonight and that might make things harder but Jason is too good for this team to lose."

As they were talking Jason jumped into the passing lane as the opposing team was trying to get into their offense.

He pushed the ball up court as he lead the fast break. He got the defender twice as he made his way to the basket.

The first move that got his defender was the behind the back pass fake. His defender looked back but quickly focused on Jason again when he realized that he still had the ball.

After the pass fake Jason then faked the lay up which got his defender into the air. But instead of a layup toward the basket Jason lobbed the ball behind him and toward the left.

Kyle caught the pass mid air and collided with the defender that Jason had tricked. The contact kept Kyle from dunking the ball but he was able to guide it into the rim.

The referee blew his whistle signaling the and one. Jason pulled Kyle up from the floor and they did their signature hand shake that ended with them firing off imaginary energy beams at each other.

Troy smiled "That Jason is a hell of a kid isn't he? That was two well used fakes in the span of a second.

Most kids are still working on the big stuff like handles and shooting form. I've seen some kids with polished games but none as polished as his.

I imagine that you guys have the same evaluation right? Or they wouldn't have you scouting him out like this."

Billy sighed "I thought we were just going to make some small talk? This sounds more like you trying to get our scouting info."

Troy slapped his leg as he laughed "Come on Billy. We're just having some fun. If it makes you feel better we can do it like this.

You ask me a question, I answer, then I ask you a question, and you answer. And besides, there's no way for us to know if either of us are telling the truth. We could be making shit up as far as the other person knows."

After thinking about it for a bit Billy nodded his head "So I'll start off then. What do you guys see as Jason's biggest weakness at the moment?"

Troy easily answered "I thought you were going to start off with a fastball not a gimme. Well lets see... 

Right now Jason's biggest weakness is his physical tools. I just got a hold of some new information recently. 

Jason went to Kawhi's training camp during the short break and one of my guys was able to get me his measurements.

He has a negative wingspan, his hands are slightly below average for his height, and he is severely under weight."

Billy looked at Troy with a questioning expression "You got a hold of his measurements? Isn't that breaking the players privacy? He hasn't made those public."

Troy chuckled before responding "Dog eat dog world remember? And besides it's not like I'm sharing the numbers with everybody. Only one other person has seen the actual numbers besides me. Anyways it's your turn to answer my question."

Billy got another good shot of Jason breaking down his defender and forcing the opposing team's defense to collapse. 

After drawing all the nearby defenders toward him Jason then kicked the ball out to Udonis. After catching the ball he then drained the wide open mid range jumper.

Troy asked "We all know that Jason Yang is the biggest reason that anyone is talking about Jefferson Middle School.

But other than him are there any other players that are on anybody's radar? Who are the other school's targeting?"

Billy answered flatly "Jason is the biggest reason that Jefferson is on most people's minds. But even he isn't a a guaranteed thing.

Most people are high on him but there are some skeptics who are claiming that he's a flash in the pan type player.

Right now the schools that are targeting him are the second or third rate programs. I think that you're the only tier one program that is actually interested in him.

As for his teammates.... There honestly isn't much to talk about. If I had to say anything I think that Trell has the most potential.

He currently doesn't have much of a handle and his range is poor. He even struggles with free throws.

But his physique and athleticism make him one of the best talents in terms of raw potential. If he can develop some skills and if his body continues to grow at the same rate that he has been then he could be an all star caliber player in the pros."