The bleachers were packed, the noise bouncing off the gym walls like thunder, Kendrick stood at the edge of the court, his hands shaking with adrenaline. This wasn't the usual street game, this was a showcase. College scouts, local coaches, and a whole lot of hungry players were here to prove something.
Kendrick had never seen so many eyes on him. But he wasn't here to choke. Not today
"K-Dawg! Let's go!" Trenton barked, slapping Kendrick's shoulder.
Kendrick nodded, feeling the pressure mount with every second. The whistle blew, and the game was on. The moment he touched the ball, everything else fell away. The Crowd, the scouts, even Trenton's nagging doubt. All that mattered was the court.
But something was off. Trenton wasn't passing the ball, hogging every play like it was his last. Kendrick fought for every shot, every possession, while Trenton ran up the scoreboard.
It wasn't until halftime that Kendrick finally cornered him by the water cooler.
"What the hell's your problem, Trent? We are supposed to be a team." Kendrick hissed, keeping his voice low.
Trenton smirked, wiping his face with a towel. "Team? man, do you think this game is about teams? It's every man for himself, K-Dawg. Do you think these scouts care about anything but numbers"
Kendrick clenched his jaw. He'd seen this coming. Trenton wasn't in it for the love of the game anymore, he was in for survival. But that didn't mean Kendrick had to play dirty too.
As they headed back to the court, Kendrick made a decision. He wasn't going to let Trenton drag him down. Not today. Not ever.