Wilt PoV
As the afternoon wore on, Wilt found himself growing restless. The quiet hum of the house, the lack of physical activity, was starting to make him anxious. He needed to do something, anything to keep his mind off his throbbing leg and the basketball court he longed for.
He looked at his laptop, an idea forming in his mind. He might not be able to play basketball, but there were other things he could do. He could study. But what? The school year had yet to begin.
Wilt grinned as he recalled his sister had recordings of her boyfriend's games from his sophomore year in university. Maybe he could figure out who the other three upperclassmen who got to skip tryouts were.
"Hey, V," Wilt yelled.
"Hey, V!" Wilt called out, his voice echoing through the house.
A few moments later, Vanessa poked her head around the corner, her brow raised in question. "What is it, Wilt?" she asked.
"Do you still have those videos of Yosiah's games from his sophomore year?" he asked, trying to sound casual.
Vanessa's eyes widened in surprise before she broke into a chuckle. "You want to watch Yosiah's games? You really are a basketball nerd."
Wilt shrugged, a sheepish grin on his face. "I thought it might be interesting to watch."
Vanessa rolled her eyes, but there was a smile on her face. "Sure, Wilt. I'll get them for you."
A few minutes later, Vanessa returned with a hard drive, handing it over to Wilt. "Here you go, basketball nerd," she teased, ruffling his hair.
"Thanks, V," he said, grinning up at her.
Wilt hooked up the hard drive to his laptop. He might not be able to play right now, but he could still study the game, learn from others, and prepare for the upcoming season. He was okay with that. Because he knew that this was just a temporary setback, and soon, he'd be back on the court, where he belonged.
His sister sat down beside him. "Last year Kellen made it to the semi-final of regionals for the first time in years. Proffessor Howard was the only one willing to double as coach when Yosiah helped reform the basketball team two years ago."
He blinked and turned to look at her. "Wait, the coach is a professor? Not a professional coach?"
"I still remember when I was helping Yosiah find a coach." Vanessa's voice had a nostalgic vibe as she continued, "Yosiah was so determined to reform the team. It was almost heartbreaking to see how little interest there was among the faculty. Then Professor Howard stepped up. He didn't have any coaching experience, but he used to play for Kallen back in the day, so he knew a thing or two about the sport. Using that past experience, he was willing to give it a shot."
Wilt frowned slightly, his curiosity piqued. He had heard about Kallen's golden days, about how they used to be a force to be reckoned with in the basketball scene. But those days were long gone, and the team had gone through a long dry spell before Yosiah had taken up the mantle.
"And now, they made it to the semi-finals last year, didn't they?" he asked, looking at his sister. Vanessa nodded, a proud smile on her face.
"They did. Yosiah was over the moon. It was as if he had proved something, not just to himself but to everyone who had doubted him and the rest of the team. It was a good day. Even if they did fail to make it to the finals."
Wilt smiled, feeling a sense of camaraderie with the Kallen team. They had proven themselves, against all odds. And he hoped that he would be able to do the same.
As he started to watch the recorded games, he felt a renewed sense of determination. He would rest, he would recover, and he would be ready for the upcoming season. He would prove himself, just like Yosiah and Professor Howard had.
And as he watched the Kallen team play, he found himself learning, absorbing their strategies and play styles.
Yosiah's play style was similar to when he was in high school, albeit a tad more polished.
Yosiah's play style was solid, reliable. He wasn't the flashiest player on the court, but he was consistent. He knew where to be and when, always seeming to be in the right place at the right time. His shots were accurate, his passes precise. He was a player you could count on, a player who did his job well, even if he didn't always steal the spotlight.
His defensive skills were commendable too. He had a knack for reading the game, for anticipating his opponent's moves. He was often able to disrupt plays, to throw off his opponents just enough to give his team the advantage.
But what stood out to Wilt the most was Yosiah's leadership. He could see it in the way he communicated with his teammates, in the way he encouraged them, guided them. He could see it in the way the team responded to him, the trust and respect they had for him. It was clear that Yosiah was a driving force behind the team, a rock they could lean on.
As he watched Yosiah play, Wilt found himself admiring his determination, his tenacity. He could see the fire in his eyes, the will to win, the will to fight for every point. It was inspiring.
Yosiah might not have been the star player, but he was the backbone of the team. He was the glue that held them together, the steady force that kept them moving forward.
As he finished watching the games, Wilt felt a renewed sense of motivation. He might be sidelined for now, but he wouldn't let that stop him. He would learn, he would improve, and he would come back stronger even if he wasn't training physically. Because a good player was more than just one who was strong of body, one had to be strong of mind and will too. Will, that which helped create power moves.