First Game of the Season I

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~~~(POV: Ulysses Kennedy)~~~

~~~(Date: October 28th, 2025)~~~

~~~(Time: 5:00 PM)~~~

~~~(Location: Nicolas-John Highschool)~~~

It's the first game of the season, and we're playing at Nicolas-John High school. We face this school three times a year in our state. The only time we ever face anyone outside the state is when it's time to go for the national high school championship playoffs and when we're representing Oregon.

It's been almost a month since that first scrimmage game against Edwin, and I've been doing my best these last 5 scrimmage games to get my teammates used to playing. Today is their first night playing for actual stakes.

I look towards the stands with Ellie and see her waving at me. I'm sitting on the bench now, waiting for the announcer to get done with the routine here for the home crowd. Hannah couldn't be here since she has a Gymnastics meet back in Holden.

It sucks that she's missing the first game of my final high school season, but there will be plenty of more to come. I've been talking a lot with James Monroe and how he's been doing when talking to teams. He's basically laying down the rules of signing me to a rookie contract.

The team that drafts me either pays 25 million, or I don't play for them. Normally, this wouldn't fly for any other players, but I'm not like any other players. So far, there have been no issues, but not everything can go perfectly.

I'm just waiting for someone or something to get in the way of this. "How are you feeling?" Coach Rodgers starts talking to me as we are sitting next to each other. I'm going to play as great as I always do, but I miss Hannah being here. It was weird liking a 17-year-old girl for a little while there, but I came to terms that I'm 17 again too.

I roll my neck as the crowd roars and chants for their team. "I'm feeling fine, Coach Rodgers. I want you to know that I'm not going to be playing passive tonight. My teammates have had plenty of opportunities to get settled in, but I need to blow off some steam." In truth, I'm a little frustrated with the media.

It's constantly in my face. My youtube and Twitter are the only online apps that I use. Every time I'm on there, it's talking about me. Well, my recommendations are. Coach Rodgers sighs to himself and places the clipboard on the ground.

I rarely ever take the game into my own hands before the game even starts, but I need to let some frustration out. There are even media here tonight, ESPN and Sportscenter reporters and camera crews watching.

Also, local podcasters that have tried to reach out to me over the years are here too. "I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that, but I know that all these microphones and cameras have been getting to you. So I'm going to pretend I'm blind and deaf tonight. I won't take you out of the game." I smile at the thought of getting to play the whole game.

Nicolas-John high school is in serious trouble tonight. The announcer finishes the hyping for the crowd, and the refs come out onto the floor and wave for the players. I stand up and make my way towards the center logo. I stand in the small forward spot and stretch a few times.

The crowd is going crazy, chanting for their team and heckling ours at the same time. The ref tosses the ball up, and we get possession. I immediately call for the ball, and it's passed to me. I bring the ball upcourt, and my defender is making sure I can't make fancy dribble moves.

I create some space and fake a pull-up, my defender jumps. But I never picked up the ball with two hands and I drive past him and pull up right at the elbow of the key.

The power forward tries to contest me, but I'm too tall. I easily sink the shoot getting the first two points of the game. The crowd is booing at me, but I ignore it and shift on defense as they inbound the ball. I stick to my man, but I'm looking for opportunities to steal the ball or block it.