The sun hadn't even risen when Jalen sprang out of bed.
He'd dreamt of hardwood floors, bouncing balls, and Kobe soaring through the air, sweat sparkling under stadium lights. He was ready. His body buzzed with adrenaline, even before breakfast.
Downstairs, the kitchen was already alive. The smell of eggs, toast, and bacon floated through the house. His dad stood by the stove, flipping pancakes like it was game day for him, too.
"Morning, champ," Marquis said, without turning.
"Morning," Jalen grinned, eyes wide.
His mom sat at the table with a camera around her neck and a water bottle labeled COLE FAMILY MVP HYDRATION SYSTEM. She winked. "We got a seat right near center court. You ready?"
Jalen nodded. "I think so."
"You know so," his dad corrected.
He took a deep breath, and they all touched fists in the middle of the kitchen — a family ritual before any big moment.
Jefferson Community Gym – 8:27 AM
It was louder than Jalen had imagined. Squeaky shoes, laughter, bouncing balls, whistles — the gym vibrated with energy. Teams in matching jerseys warmed up on both courts. Parents filled the bleachers, coaches paced with clipboards, and a local DJ played pump-up music from a table near the snack bar.
Jalen's team, the Southside Vipers, wore bright red jerseys with a black mamba logo stitched just above the heart — his idea.
"Vipers on three!" Coach Trey barked. "One, two, three—"
"VIPERS!"
Jalen's heart raced as he tightened his laces.
This was it. Game one.
Tip-Off
The whistle blew. The ball flew.
For the first few plays, Jalen was stiff. The pressure made the court feel slippery, the rim like a faraway dream. He passed too quickly, hesitated on an open shot, and got bumped out of position by a kid twice his size.
"Come on, breathe. Breathe."
He remembered his dad's voice. "Don't play for them. Play for you."
By the end of the first quarter, he started to find his rhythm. A smooth crossover, a steal, a clean jumper off the glass.
And then—
"Number 7, you're subbing in."
Jalen turned to the other bench. A new kid walked in.
Tall. Calm. Wearing sleek blue sneakers and a headband that matched nothing — like he didn't care.
He jogged onto the court, fist-bumped his teammates, and gave Jalen a small nod.
"You're Jalen, right?"
"Yeah."
"Cool. I've heard about you."
He said it without bragging or mocking. Just... cool.
Then he turned and hit a step-back three like it was nothing.
The Rival
His name was Kairo Ellis. He played for the Westview Hawks, and no one knew where he came from. Some said he just moved here from California. Others claimed he'd trained at a private camp in Chicago.
What Jalen knew was this: Kairo had skills.
Silky handles. A calm demeanor. And eyes that didn't blink.
Their first matchup was like a chess game. Jalen would drive right, Kairo would cut him off. Kairo would fake left, spin, and hit a floater. Jalen answered with a baseline jumper.
Back and forth. The crowd started paying attention.
"Who's the kid in red?"
"That's Jalen Cole."
"And the other?"
"No clue... but he's cold."
Final Minute – Tie Game
The score: 34–34.
Thirty seconds left. Coach Trey called a timeout.
"Jalen. You want it?"
"Yeah," he said without hesitation.
The Vipers ran a screen up top. Jalen dribbled around, saw the lane open... and Kairo waiting.
One-on-one.
He juked right. Kairo bit. Jalen spun left, rose, and released.
The ball sailed...
Swish.
36–34.
The crowd roared.
Ten seconds left.
Kairo got the ball.
He dribbled past one, then another.
Three seconds.
He stopped behind the arc. Jalen lunged.
Kairo shot.
The buzzer and the ball hit the air at the same time.
Clang. Off the rim.
The Vipers erupted.
Jalen's teammates lifted him up. His dad was on his feet, clapping harder than anyone. The crowd buzzed like a storm. And Kairo?
He just smiled, walked over, and shook Jalen's hand.
"Good game. You earned that."
Jalen nodded, breathing heavy. "Same to you."
Later, Outside the Gym
As the team left for snacks and slushies, Jalen's dad put a hand on his shoulder.
"How'd it feel?"
Jalen looked at him, sweat still dripping.
"Like I was really playing for me."
His dad smiled, and together they walked into the sun.