Monsters Inside The Court

After Xavier's shot, the match continued.

However, the coach's eyes could only twitch as to what he was seeing.

On Xavier's team, there were few decent students other than Xavier that he thought could potentially join the academy's basketball team but instances occurred that they only kept on passing the ball to Xavier for some reason. Hence, it had been very hard for him to deduce their abilities.

From the opposing team, one guy was too showy with his dribbling skills and kept hoarding the ball. He would also ask the ball unnecessarily and whenever the pass got blocked or intercepted, he would cast a glare on his teammate.

'Xavier and Matthew.' The coach looked at the paper details these students passed before going for this tryout. Students were required to have copies of their admission papers when joining a club. So the papers got their pictures and names.

Although the coach would not want to have Matthew on the team, his strength and his attack on the rim were above average during certain moments of the game. Thus, the selection process had become really hard for him.

There were only four slots for the basketball team as he instructed before the match. With how the game was playing out, the players of the team were sure that Xavier and Matthew were on the top of the list.

There was also someone that caught the eyes of the coach and it was the almost six foot center player on Xavier's Team. His vertical jump could be hone more and it would bring great benefits on rebound.

Prrrt.

The coach blew the whistle to end the game and signaled for them to line up. They were still expecting some 'visitors' today and the match had to end as he already got the players he wanted.

"You all have played exceptionally well and I can sense your passion. However, only four people," the coach said.

Xavier listened to the coach and gave a glance to the side. He saw the players of the basketball team muttering with each other. They seemed nervous about something.

He ignored what he saw and continued to listen to the coach.

"The names I will call please step up."

"Xavier"

"Matthew"

"Anthony"

The other seven students were nervous while some had already given up including the student named Cethin. He only passed the ball around to those he thought will be able to score. He was only a small forward and he didn't get to score as he could not find any opportunity for himself.

He possessed the same height as Xavier while his body and face were white but slightly tanned.

With his head bowed and his feet prepared to leave, the coach announced the last person that passed the tryout.

"Cethin."

The students that tried out and the players of the basketball team murmured with each other. However, the coach didn't mind them and he had nothing to explain to them. Cethin performed far better than those who scored.

Even Cethin's mouth opened wide in shock. He could not believe that he would be chosen for the tryout but why? He wasn't able to make an opportunity for himself to shoot just like everyone did.

"You can try again next year when spots have opened. You can all go now."

"The four of you. Stay. I have a few instructions."

The coach was about to speak when Cethin interrupted him.

"Coach, why was I chosen? There were many more suitable candidates than me from my seven classmates. So why?"

Cethin was really curious and he always had the mindset that people should choose the best. He only thought that he should receive what he is worthy of.

"Are you doubting my decision?" Suddenly, the coach's face turned serious and released a terrifying aura. It felt disrespectful for him to doubt someone with his years of experience.

Matthew approached Cethin and patted his shoulder. "You did well out there. Our other teammates' passes were only so-so."

Hearing this compliment, Cethin was overjoyed as he remained quiet.

The coach was happy that he saw Matthew in a different light. He could see that this greedy player knew how to acknowledge the strength of his teammates. As such, he was very proud of his decisions and he calmed down before facing Cethin with a serious face.

"I have put my trust in the four of you because I see your potential. However, if you don't work hard and follow my training, that is the only time you will prove me wrong."

Cethin nodded as he knew he overreacted with that question. Those seven people would have been happy if they got a spot while he had actually questioned the coach's decision.

"I apologize."

"Don't do it again. Let us proceed to the instructions."

First, he introduced himself as Coach Michael and he was also a physical education teacher of the academy.

Then, Michael continued speaking about the instructions and this included their training time. They would have daily practice that varies in intensity. These instructions made the three new players excited while Matthew was indifferent.

They listened until the coach told them that the welcome party for them will be tomorrow. Even the coach was acting weird, Xavier thought.

Michael asked all of them to go change and leave the gym. He then looked at the watch on his left arm. It was only half an hour before 11AM. They should be arriving by now.

Xavier walked out of the gym with all smiles as he had now become a part of the basketball team. When was it that he wanted to play basketball?

He tried to recall the memory when he first watched a basketball game with his father. It was only last year but to the current him, it had been twenty five years ago. The match was with the Miami Heats and Oklahoma City Thunder, Game 5 of the NBA Finals.

He wasn't really a fan but he got excited when Miami won the game. There was confetti that fell from the stadium's ceiling. Fans were cheering and the Miami players were all laughing and smiling with the trophy.

As a child, he looked at them and asked a question in his heart. What does it feel to be the one receiving the cheers and the smiles and laughter of his peers?

Although as a CEO of the Zero Group, there were a lot of praises and cheers after successful projects. Corporate parties contained smiles and laughter.

However, Xavier did not feel the same excitement through this. In fact, he had only longed for it more when he felt that this wasn't the same feeling he felt back in 2012.

He wanted badly to relive that first basketball game he watched but he had no choice on where he would travel. He asked the system if he could time travel once more with his money but it answered that it wasn't possible with his current money. The accident in 2037 that involved his car and another car had actually forced the system to offer that at a discounted price.

While these thoughts lingered in his mind, Xavier touched the pockets of his pants as he noticed that his phone wasn't there.

It was on the seat in the locker room, he remembered.

He had been really far from the gym right now so he rushed toward the gym.

Suddenly, Xavier bumped into a person that knocked him backward as he was caught off guard. "Sorry, sorry."

He stood up only to see a robust man in a suit different from their uniform. He squinted his eyes to look at the insignia on the suit.

Grandview Middle School.

Wait.

Xavier looked behind him only to see four other men with him. They all possessed a professional and terrifying aura. How could he forget about that story?

There was a story circulating back then about the Grandview Basketball Team. It was already rare to have one student who has the talent to become an NBA player in a basketball team.

The Grandview Basketball Team didn't have one but five students who were said to be monsters inside the court.