The Ironwood gym was alive again, the echo of basketballs bouncing and sneakers squeaking filling the air. The Hawks were coming off their biggest win yet, but the atmosphere wasn't relaxed. If anything, it felt heavier, sharper, like the team knew what was waiting around the corner.
Jaden stood at the top of the key, spinning the ball in his hands while Coach Hale's whistle pierced through the noise.
"Again!" Hale barked. "Run the press break like your season depends on it, because it does!"
The team reset. Ethan called out positions, Tank moved into place, and Tyler wiped sweat from his brow as he waited on the wing.
Jaden dribbled once, hard. "Blue press, let's move!"
The ball zipped through their hands. Ethan to Jaden, Jaden to Tyler, Tyler back to Tank, who slammed it home with a booming dunk that shook the rim.
The sound echoed through the gym.
"That's how you do it!" Jaden shouted, clapping his hands as Tank jogged past, grinning.
Coach Hale's voice cut through the moment. "Better. But remember, discipline wins games. One sloppy pass in a showcase and you're watching from the bench. Don't test me."
The team nodded. They'd learned not to mistake Hale's calm tone for mercy.
After practice, the players sprawled out on the bleachers, sweat dripping from their faces. Tank leaned back, his jersey soaked through.
"Man," he groaned, "I feel like I just fought a bear and lost."
Ethan chuckled. "You ever fought a bear, Tank?"
"Nah," Tank said, waving him off. "But I feel like one punched me in the chest."
Jaden laughed, tossing his towel at Tank's head. "That's cause you don't stretch, big man. You all brawn, no brains."
Tank grinned. "Brains don't get rebounds, Silk."
Tyler smirked faintly from the corner. "You sure? You miss enough of 'em."
The group laughed, but this time, it felt easy. Real. The tension that once sat between them was fading.
Tyler stood and walked over to Jaden. "Hey, about that talk we had. I needed that. Appreciate it, for real."
Jaden nodded, meeting his eyes. "We straight, bro. You locked in now, that's all that matters."
"Yeah," Tyler said quietly. "I'm locked in."
That evening, the outdoor court glowed under pale campus lights. The night air carried a chill, and the faint sound of traffic hummed in the distance.
Jaden was there alone, shooting in rhythm. Dribble, pull-up, swish. Over and over again. Sweat rolled down his forehead, but his focus never broke.
A familiar voice came from behind him.
"Guess sleep ain't in your vocabulary, huh?"
Ava Martinez leaned against the fence, her camera slung over one shoulder, her hair tied back in a loose ponytail.
Jaden caught the ball and turned with a smirk. "Sleep don't get you better, Martinez."
"Neither does burnout," she said, crossing her arms. "You're already leading this team, Jaden. You don't have to prove it every second."
He bounced the ball lightly. "Nah. Gotta keep proving it. People forget quick."
Ava studied him for a moment, her expression softening. "You sound like someone carrying a little too much weight."
Jaden shot again. Swish. "Comes with the role, right?"
Ava smiled faintly. "Maybe. But leadership isn't about doing everything yourself. It's about getting everyone to believe they can do it too."
Jaden caught the rebound and looked over at her, his voice low but steady. "Yeah. I'm startin' to get that."
"Good," Ava said. She raised her camera and snapped a quick photo before he could protest.
"Yo, really?" Jaden said, rolling his eyes.
"Really," she replied with a grin. "You'll thank me when you're famous."
Jaden chuckled, shaking his head. "You somethin' else, Martinez."
"Yeah," she said, smirking. "I know."
Two days later, the team gathered in the locker room before morning practice. A new paper was pinned to the bulletin board.
Ironwood Winter Showcase – Schedule Update
Ironwood Academy, Southpoint, Lakeview, East Bay, North Harbor
Jaden's eyes scanned the list. Southpoint. His chest tightened. Ray Hale's team.
Ethan whistled low. "That's a stacked lineup."
Tank's grin faded. "Man, we playin' all the killers at once."
Tyler folded his arms. "Good. We need that."
Coach Hale walked in just then, clipboard under his arm, eyes sharp as ever. "You're damn right you do. These aren't regular games. This showcase will decide who gets scouted, who gets ranked, and who gets exposed. So ask yourself right now, what side of that line do you wanna be on?"
The room went quiet.
Hale's gaze moved from player to player. "We've come far. But don't fool yourselves. Southpoint's watching. Ray Hale's watching. And they don't make mistakes. You slip, they'll bury you."
He paused. "So sharpen up. We're done being underdogs."
Jaden's jaw clenched. He could already see Ray's cold blue eyes in his mind. Calm. Calculating. Waiting.
Later that night, Jaden sat on his dorm bed, phone in hand. A text popped up.
Marco: Heard about the showcase. Big stage, huh?
Jaden: Yeah. Feels like everybody gonna be watchin'.
Marco: Good. Then let 'em. You built for it, bro. Don't overthink. Just remind 'em who you are.
Jaden: You know me. I don't fold.
Marco: That's what I like to hear. Keep your head straight. You ain't playin' for lights. You playin' for legacy.
Jaden stared at the message for a while, then set the phone down. Legacy. The word sat heavy in his chest.
He picked up the basketball resting beside his bed and spun it slowly in his hands.
Southpoint was coming.
Ray Hale was coming.
And this time, Jaden Hunter wasn't the same kid from the streets trying to prove something.
He was the leader of Ironwood.
And he was ready to remind everyone why they called him Silk.