The game started with a simple inbound. Jace Carter caught the ball at the top of the key, and immediately, the entire arena leaned forward in their seats. The Metro Hawks' point guard, a stocky kid with quick feet, picked Jace up at half court, his stance low and ready.
Jace dribbled once with his right hand, a lazy bounce that barely rose above his knee. The defender matched him, sliding his feet laterally. Jace crossed the ball to his left hand, then back to his right, the motion so quick it looked like the ball was attached to his palm with a string.
The defender lunged forward, trying to get a hand on the ball. Bad decision.
Jace exploded past him with one step, his acceleration instantaneous. The defender stumbled backward, his feet tangling as he tried to recover. Jace was already at the free throw line before the help defense could rotate.
The Metro Hawks' center stepped up, his long arms reaching toward the ball. Jace didn't hesitate. He rose up from fifteen feet out, his form perfect, his release smooth and effortless.
The ball kissed the back of the rim and dropped through.
Riverside Kings 2, Metro Hawks 0.
The crowd erupted. Darius watched from his seat, his eyes tracking every movement. That wasn't just a good first possession. That was a statement.
The Metro Hawks brought the ball up, clearly trying to slow the pace and settle into their offense. They swung the ball around the perimeter, looking for an opening. Their shooting guard took a contested three-pointer that missed.
Jace grabbed the rebound, turned, and immediately pushed the pace. He crossed half court in four dribbles, the ball never rising above his waist, his eyes scanning the floor like a general surveying a battlefield.
Two defenders converged on him at the three-point line. Jace didn't slow down. He dribbled between them with a behind-the-back move that left both defenders reaching at air. Now he was in the paint, one-on-one with the center again.
Jace jumped, and the center jumped with him, his hand stretched toward the ball. But Jace wasn't shooting yet. He hung in the air, waiting for the center to start coming down, then released a floater that arced over the big man's fingertips.
The ball dropped through the net.
Riverside Kings 4, Metro Hawks 0.
Darius leaned back in his seat, his jaw tight. The Hustle System was already feeding him data.
Target Analysis: Jace Carter
Shot attempts: 2 Field goals made: 2 Shooting percentage: 100% Dribble moves executed: 4 (all successful) Defender beaten: 3 different players
Notable patterns:
Uses hesitation dribbles to create separation Excellent body control in mid-air Reads help defense before it arrives Comfortable shooting from any distance
The Metro Hawks called timeout barely two minutes into the game.
Their coach was animated, drawing up defensive schemes on his clipboard, pointing at different players. When they returned to the court, they switched to a box-and-one defense, dedicating their best defender to shadow Jace wherever he went while the other four played zone.
It didn't matter.
Jace brought the ball up on the next possession and immediately recognized the defensive adjustment. He dribbled left, drawing his dedicated defender with him. Then he stopped on a dime at the three-point line and shot before the defender could close out.
The ball was in the air for what felt like forever, spinning backward, the arc high and true.
Swish.
Riverside Kings 7, Metro Hawks 2.
The dedicated defender looked frustrated now, his shoulders tight, his movements becoming more aggressive. On the next possession, he pressed Jace full court, trying to disrupt his rhythm.
Jace welcomed the pressure. He dribbled the ball between his legs twice, then crossed over hard to his right. The defender bit on the fake, his momentum carrying him left. Jace took two more dribbles and pulled up from twenty-five feet out.
Nothing but net.
Riverside Kings 10, Metro Hawks 2.
Darius could feel his chest tightening as he watched. This wasn't just good basketball. This was dominance. Every move Jace made looked effortless, like he was playing against kids at a YMCA instead of a quarterfinal opponent in a competitive junior league.
The Metro Hawks tried everything. They doubled Jace at half court. He split the double team with a spin move and finished at the rim. They sagged off him to prevent the drive. He pulled up from three-point range and made it. They face-guarded him off the ball. He came off screens and shot before his feet were even set.
By the end of the first quarter, the score was Riverside Kings 28, Metro Hawks 12. Jace had scored eighteen of those twenty-eight points.
The Hustle System updated constantly in Darius's vision.
Quarter 1 Analysis: Jace Carter
Points: 18 Field goals: 7/9 (77.8%) Three-pointers: 4/5 (80%) Assists: 2 Turnovers: 0 Defenders beaten: 8 Unsuccessful defensive possessions against him: 9/11
Advanced metrics:
True shooting percentage: 85.7% Usage rate: 45% Player efficiency rating: 38.4
Psychological assessment:
Confidence level: Extremely high Decision-making: Elite under pressure Body language: Relaxed, in complete control
Darius watched Jace walk to the bench during the timeout. He wasn't celebrating. Wasn't showing off. He just sat down, took a sip of water, and listened to his coach like it was any other game.
That's what made it scarier. Jace wasn't even trying to put on a show. This was just how he played.
The second quarter started, and Jace went to the bench for a few minutes to rest. The Metro Hawks managed to cut the lead down to twelve points. Then Jace checked back in.
It took him exactly two minutes to restore the twenty-point lead.
He came off a screen on the right wing and caught a pass in rhythm. His defender was a step behind. Jace rose up and shot from three-point range.
Swish.
Next possession, he drove baseline, absorbed contact from two defenders, and somehow still managed to kiss the ball off the glass for a layup while falling away from the basket.
And one. He made the free throw.
Then he stole the ball at half court on the Metro Hawks' next possession, took two dribbles, and pulled up from thirty feet out.
The ball barely touched the rim as it went through.
By halftime, the score was Riverside Kings 58, Metro Hawks 32. Jace had thirty-one points on 12/16 shooting.
Darius sat in his seat during the break, trying to process what he was watching. The system's voice appeared in his mind, clinical and analytical.
ASSESSMENT: Jace Carter represents highest-level threat in current tournament bracket.
Comparison to current Bayview roster:
Offensive skill: Significantly superior to all players Individual scoring ability: Unmatched Ball-handling: Elite tier Shooting range: No limitations detected Confidence: Operating at maximum capacity
Recommendation: Defensive strategy against this player will require team-wide commitment and systemic approach. Individual matchup success probability: Low.
Darius already knew that. He didn't need the system to tell him what his eyes could clearly see. Jace was a problem. A massive, unavoidable problem.
And if Bayview won their next game, Darius was going to have to guard him.
The thought made his chest tight. He wasn't ready for that. Not with his hesitation around contact. Not with the headaches that came every time he drove hard to the rim. Not with the mental block that kept him from playing at the level Che used to play at.
How was he supposed to stop someone like Jace when he couldn't even fully access his own abilities?
The second half started, and it only got worse. Jace came out and immediately hit three consecutive three-pointers, each one from a different spot on the floor. The crowd was going absolutely insane now. People were standing on their feet for every possession he touched the ball.
The Metro Hawks had completely given up trying to stop him. Their body language showed defeat. Their rotations were slow. Their closeouts were half-hearted. They were just trying to survive now, trying to get through the game without the margin becoming completely embarrassing.
But Jace wasn't letting up. Every possession was an opportunity to do something spectacular. A crossover that left a defender on the floor. A step-back three from the logo. A Euro-step layup through three defenders. Each move was executed with this casual confidence that made it look like art.
With five minutes left in the fourth quarter and the score sitting at Riverside Kings 94, Metro Hawks 58, Jace's coach finally pulled him out of the game. The crowd gave him a standing ovation that lasted a full minute. Jace acknowledged it with a small wave and sat down on the bench.
His final stat line appeared in Darius's vision courtesy of the Hustle System:
FINAL STATISTICS: Jace Carter
Points: 47 Field goals: 17/23 (73.9%) Three-pointers: 9/12 (75%) Free throws: 4/4 (100%) Assists: 6 Rebounds: 5 Steals: 3 Turnovers: 1 Plus/Minus: +38
SCOUTING REPORT SUMMARY:
Offensive Strengths:
Can score from anywhere on the court with equal efficiency Elite ball-handling creates separation at will Shooting form is mechanically perfect with quick release Comfortable taking and making difficult shots Excellent court vision and passing ability Thrives in high-pressure moments
Defensive Tendencies:
Aggressive in passing lanes Gambles for steals frequently Can be beaten by quick, decisive drives when caught off-balance Help defense rotations are average
Psychological Profile:
Plays with supreme confidence bordering on arrogance Does not show visible frustration when missing shots Commands attention from all defenders at all times Performs better with larger crowds
OVERALL ASSESSMENT:
Elite scorer at junior level Professional-level skill development Requires double or triple-team defensive schemes Individually unguardable by standard defensive approach
THREAT LEVEL: MAXIMUM
The game ended with Riverside Kings winning 106-68. A thirty-eight-point blowout. Jace had scored forty-seven of those one hundred and six points, nearly half of his team's total output.
Darius sat in his seat long after most of the crowd had filed out. The arena was emptying, but he stayed, replaying what he'd just witnessed in his mind.
He'd seen elite players before. In his past life as Che, he'd played against future NBA talent. He'd guarded players who would go on to make millions in the league. But this was different. Jace wasn't just talented. He was complete. At fourteen years old, he was playing basketball that looked like it belonged on a high school varsity court at minimum, maybe even higher.
And Bayview was going to have to face him in three days.
Darius finally stood up and made his way toward the exit. His phone buzzed with a text from Malik.
You alive? How was the game?
Darius typed back slowly as he walked.
We're in trouble.
He added nothing else. What else was there to say?
Outside the arena, the night air felt cool against his face. People were still milling around, talking excitedly about what they'd just watched. Darius heard snippets of conversation as he walked past.
"Did you see that shot from half court?"
"Forty-seven points! At fourteen!"
"He's going to the league for sure."
"Nobody in this tournament can guard him."
Darius kept walking, his hands shoved deep in his pockets. That last comment echoed in his mind. Nobody in this tournament can guard him.
Maybe that was true. Maybe Jace was just too good, too skilled, too confident to be stopped by anyone at this level. But Bayview didn't have a choice. They had to try.
And whether Darius felt ready or not, he was going to be a big part of that effort.
He pulled out his phone and opened a group chat with the team. His fingers hovered over the keyboard for a moment before he started typing.
Just watched our next opponent. We need to talk before practice tomorrow. Everyone needs to see what we're up against.
The responses came quickly.
Daren: That bad?
Darius hesitated, then typed the truth.
Worse.