Location: North Augusta, South Carolina – Nike EYBL Peach Jam Tournament
Date: July 2018
Kyle Wilson – 16 y/o, 6'8", National Rank: #28
Status: Fully active, under close medical monitoring
Teams Attending: Duke, Kentucky, Arizona, Overseas Pro Scouts, NBA Pre-Draft Analysts
Arrival – Peach JamThe gym smelled like pressure.
Sweat, rubber, fast food grease, and the distant echo of sneaker squeaks. ESPN crews were setting up. Coaches wore sunglasses indoors. The Nike swoosh was everywhere.
Kyle stepped into the arena like a soldier walking into a war he'd been dreaming of — and dreading — for years.
His squad?
Team Inferno.
A gritty, underdog AAU team out of the Northeast, barely snuck into Peach Jam as a #15 seed.
His mission?
Face the best. Survive the noise. Prove the rehab wasn't a fluke.
Zion on the WallThe event banner was twenty feet tall.
Zion Williamson, mid-air, arm cocked, face blank with murder.
Kyle stopped and stared at it.
Zion had grown into a walking highlight reel. Already 6'7", 285 pounds. He was the gravity. The center. The reason the gym tilted.
Malik "Flash" Bradley, now Kyle's AAU teammate, nudged him.
"You ready to meet Goliath?"
Kyle said nothing.
He just tightened the laces on his sneakers.
First Game – Ghost ReawakensTeam Inferno vs. Seattle Elevate
Kyle started at the 4. Game plan: anchor the defense, grab boards, survive screens.
First possession: he snagged a defensive rebound, pushed the break, drop-off pass—layup.
Second: he slid over on help defense and blocked a reverse layup into the baseline.
By the end of the first half?
6 points
4 rebounds
2 blocks
1 steal
0 limp
ESPN's sideline reporter whispered:
"Ghost's back."
Postgame – Zion ArrivesTeam SC Supreme — Zion's team — rolled in just as Inferno wrapped up.
The gym shifted.
Fans ran to courtside. Scouts scribbled. Cameras flashed like lightning.
Kyle watched Zion warm up — between-the-legs dunks in pregame like they were casual layups.
Zion spotted Kyle.
Nodded.
No words. Just energy.
Kyle nodded back.
No fear.
Second Game – The HumblingTeam Inferno vs. SC Supreme
Zion vs. Kyle.
Packed gym. ESPN3 livestream.
Kyle's first matchup against a household name.
First possession: Zion powered into Kyle's chest—spin, dunk.
The gym exploded.
Next possession: Zion swiped Kyle's entry pass, went coast-to-coast, windmill dunk.
Commentator:
"Kyle Wilson's going to need a new spine if he keeps guarding that man straight up."
Langston, watching on his phone back in Jersey, muttered:
"Don't break, kid…"
Fight Back – The Ghost AwakensKyle adjusted.
He started playing angles.
Cut off Zion's left. Forced him to settle for jumpers. Swiped a lazy bounce pass. Got a clean block at the rim late in the second.
Then?
He hit a baseline fadeaway jumper.
Next trip down: corner three.
Zion jogged past him.
"You real."
Kyle didn't reply.
But inside?
That fire lit up again.
Game RecapFinal Score: SC Supreme 77 – Inferno 72
Zion: 28 pts, 9 rebs, 3 blocks
Kyle: 14 pts, 7 rebs, 3 steals, 2 blocks
They lost.
But Ghost was now officially back.
Scouts took notice.
Coach K, Calipari, and even a rep from Real Madrid were seen circling the postgame meetups.
Back at the HotelKyle lay on his bed, knees in ice buckets, towel over his head.
Malik scrolled Twitter.
"Yo. You trending."
Kyle grunted.
"'Ghost stands tall against Zion' — bro, they giving you love."
Kyle opened his eyes.
Just a little.
The Ja EncounterNext morning. Warmup gym. 6 a.m.
Kyle was alone, shooting free throws.
A voice from the other end:
"Left that jumper short."
Kyle turned.
Ja Morant was leaning against the wall, sipping a Gatorade.
Slim. Calm. Quiet fire.
They locked eyes.
"You Ghost?"
Kyle nodded.
"You Ja."
Ja grinned. "We play y'all tonight."
Kyle smirked. "Mi know."
Ja walked off. But before he left, he turned back.
"Bring your ankles."
The Clash – Inferno vs. Morant EliteIf Zion was force, Ja was finesse.
First quarter: Ja hit a stepback three, then came off a high screen and lobbed an alley-oop with perfect touch.
Kyle? He focused on rotations. Help defense. Talked loud. Pointed. Boxed out hard.
Second quarter: Kyle took a post feed, jabbed, spun middle—hook shot.
Ja clapped from the perimeter.
"You learning post footwork now?"
"Mi learning everything."
Fourth Quarter – The Turning PointDown six. Two minutes left.
Kyle switched onto Ja after a broken play.
Ja drove hard.
Kyle slid.
Ja stopped.
Kyle jumped—
JA SPUN MID-AIR. REVERSE LAYUP. AND-1.
The crowd gasped.
Even Kyle had to nod.
"That was cold."
Ja extended a hand to help him up.
"You good, Ghost."
Kyle took the hand.
"I'll be better next time."
AftermathTeam Inferno missed the knockout stage by one game.
But Kyle?
His name exploded.
Mock Draft Board (July 2018):
Zion (#1)
RJ Barrett (#3)
Ja Morant (#8)
Kyle Wilson (Late First Round – "Elite Defensive Anchor. Motor. Improving Skillset.")
Langston called that night.
"You did it. They see you now."
Kyle looked at his knees.
They still hurt.
But they held.
Final Scene – The ElevatorAs Kyle left the hotel, he stepped into the elevator.
Someone else walked in behind him.
RJ Barrett, headphones in.
They nodded at each other.
RJ smiled.
"See you at McDonald's, Ghost."
Kyle grinned.
"Yuh better hope mi knees hold up."
RJ laughed.
"Even if they don't… that heart will."