Setting: Eden Hill Prep – Late February 2018
Kyle Wilson – 16 y/o, 6'8", National Rank: #29
Offers: Arizona, TCU, Gonzaga (interest), Montverde Transfer Invite
Condition: Chronic knee inflammation, ice therapy twice daily, MRI pending
Early Morning – 5:12 a.m.The room was dark.
But Kyle was already awake.
He lay on his back, legs propped up against the wall, ice bags strapped to both knees.
Every morning started like this now — in pain and in silence.
A buzz on his phone.
Coach Barrett (Jamaica National Team):
"Proud of yuh. But don't burn it all before you get here. April camp still happening."
Kyle responded:
"Mi holding up."
He lied.
Locker Room – Post-Rankings DramaThe new Rivals 150 dropped that morning.
Kyle's name ticked up again.
#29 — tied with a wiry point guard from South Carolina with a wild name: Ja Morant.
Zion Dorsey grinned when he saw it.
"Ghost back in the 20s. We cooking now."
But Tyler Knox smirked.
"You only moved up 'cause the scouts feel bad."
Kyle didn't even blink.
"Or maybe mi just better than you."
Tyler shoved him.
Zion stepped between them.
"You really wanna test that knee, Knox?"
Coach Langston's OfficeLangston sat behind his desk, flipping through scout notes.
"You're making a lot of noise, Wilson. But it's not all good noise."
Kyle sat across from him, knees still swollen under joggers.
Langston continued:
"Got teams asking: 'How long can he stay upright?' You're becoming a legend and a risk."
Kyle leaned forward.
"Mi not scared of risk."
"You should be," Langston said flatly. "Because fire makes headlines, but ice wins seasons."
He slid a paper across the desk — a formal offer from Arizona.
Kyle blinked.
"Conditional scholarship. Pending medical clearance."
Practice – Ice BreaksIt was a hard practice. Langston wasn't pulling punches anymore.
Scrimmage went long. Zion was dunking everything.
Kyle stayed sharp, boxed out, rotated, called screens — but on one slide, his knee buckled.
Just for a second.
Langston saw it.
"OUT," he barked.
Ramos ran over.
Kyle held his breath.
He didn't want to show pain. But the limp was back.
Zion tossed him a towel as he hobbled off.
"You good, bro?"
Kyle clenched his jaw.
"Mi just hot."
Later That Night – The Ice Tub ConfessionDre FaceTimed again.
Kyle answered from the training room.
Both legs in ice. Hoodie soaked with sweat. Face pale.
"You look like you fighting for your life, brudda," Dre said.
Kyle laughed weakly. "Maybe mi am."
"You really gonna take that Arizona offer?"
Kyle paused.
"Mi don't know yet. Mi feel like... mi name getting louder, but mi body getting quieter."
Dre leaned in on screen.
"Then it's time to listen before silence becomes permanent."
Weekend Showcase – The Brotherhood EventEden Hill entered an elite high school invitational: The Brotherhood Showcase.
Top teams from across the U.S.
Real talent. Real stakes.
Scouts. Cameras. NBA agents in disguise.
That's where Kyle saw him.
RJ Barrett.
Warmups. Smooth. Confident. Canadian star with swagger in every step.
Kyle watched him hit ten straight corner threes like it was a breathing exercise.
"Future Duke guard," someone whispered courtside.
RJ turned, nodded at Kyle.
"You the Jamaican kid?"
Kyle nodded back.
RJ grinned. "I like defenders. Let's dance tonight."
Game Time – Eden Hill vs. MontverdeKyle started with tape around both knees.
RJ opened with a euro-step floater. Swish.
Next possession, Kyle switched onto him.
RJ tried a quick cross.
Kyle slid — planted — almost slipped.
RJ rose.
Bang. Three.
Zion slapped Kyle's back.
"You good?"
Kyle nodded.
"Mi got him next time."
But his knees were screaming.
Mid-Game – The Inner BattleIt was 32–29 Montverde in the second.
Kyle had 6 points, 3 rebounds, 2 blocks — and one noticeable limp.
Langston shouted: "Wilson! You pushing too far."
But Kyle shook his head.
RJ drove again. Kyle met him at the rim.
Contact.
RJ finished.
Whistle.
Foul.
Kyle stumbled after landing.
Not the knee — this time it was his back.
Ramos helped him off the court.
Benched – The ConsequenceKyle sat the rest of the game. Montverde won by 12.
RJ came over post-game.
"You tough. But take care of yourself, man. Draft year's not about who's the loudest… it's who lasts longest."
Kyle nodded.
Respect. Humility. Reality.
That night, he declined the Arizona offer.
Final Scene – The Real Grind BeginsKyle sat in Langston's office again the next morning.
Langston raised an eyebrow. "You turned down your best offer."
Kyle nodded.
"Mi not finished. Mi just need to do this different. Smarter."
Langston nodded slowly.
"That means no Spring Showcase. No back-to-backs. No proving anything for clicks."
Kyle stood.
"Mi ready for that."
Langston added:
"RJ's trainer wants to work with you this summer. In Canada. Private. Quiet. Focused on healing and skill."
Kyle's eyes lit up.
"No cameras?"
"Nope. Just pain and progress."
Kyle smiled.
"Mi can work with that."