Rebound: A 2nd Chance

After that day where Jason took down both Central Park and Golden Oaks no one questioned whether or not anyone from his group belonged there at the training camp.

And somehow it became a part of their training schedule to end the day off with a few games of five on five.

At first it was just Central Park and Golden Oaks stubbornly refusing to admit that a team comprised of players that didn't even make it to the National tournament was better than them.

But even after repeated defeats with lopsided scores they continued to challenge Jason and his group everyday. And everyday Jason and his team would destroy them.

And while playing Jason always took on the role of guarding the other teams' best offensive perimeter player.

During the course of a few days the cameramen and the researchers all noticed that Jason would always be talking or saying something during the games.

Whether it was getting a steal, blocking a shot at its low point, or even taking a charge Jason always had something to say afterwards.

And of course these games were always filmed as the editors for Nike's docu-series felt that they were high quality material that would certainly attract attention.

But what Nike didn't take into consideration was that Jason by himself was more than enough to draw a crowd.

After the first part of their docu-series aired groups of fans began to show up waiting outside of the Nike training facility.

A portion of the fans were there to see Amarion and some of the other guys from Central Park. And some of them were fans of Marvin and Golden Oaks. But the large majority of them came for Jason.

There were some female fans who were only fans because of Jason's looks. While some of them were new fans who just found out about Jason as a basketball player.

A large number of them became fans after seeing Jason on Nike's docu-series. Jason's childish looks were a stark contrast to the way that he carried himself.

During the segments where they interviewed Jason the way that he spoke and the deep and insightful answers that he gave were the complete opposite of his young and childlike appearance.

This drew in the attention of people who had never heard of him before. And when Nike aired the next part of their docu-series showing Jason taking down Central Park and Golden Oaks during practice his following only grew.

Before Jason had left for New York he had only had around sixty thousand followers on his social media account.

After the world saw him take down two of the most dominant middle school basketball teams in practice his followers shot up to a hundred and thirty thousand.

- - -

One night back at the hotel. Jason and Kyle were at the table of their hotel room watching film of themselves from practice on a laptop that they had borrowed from Nike while the rest of the guys watched TV.

Jason pointed at the monitor "See that? You read the play wrong. You were so focused on the screen and you got caught watching. That's why he was able to get past you."

Kyle nodded his head "Gotcha." He then looked at Jason before letting out a sigh "Some guys are too lucky. They have it all."

Jason let out a chuckle "I know you ain't talking about me bro. Because if you are I need to where the hell the rest of my shit is cause I know damn well that I don't have it all."

Rudy laughed from across the room "Haha says the dude who's a beast at basketball, got a pretty boy face, and hundreds of bitches hittin him up in the dms."

3D nodded his head "You wouldn't know how it feels to only be good at one thing Jaya. I'm fourteen and I haven't even talked to a girl yet.

Every time I try to even say high to a girl they get freaked out and run away. And I know damn well that nobody trying to talk to Rudy's busted face."

Rudy had been nodding his head to everything that 3D was saying. But as soon as his name was brought up he threw one of the pillows on the bed at 3D's face.

"Speak for yourself 3D! I was voted the best looking on the basketball team!" 3D grinned "I've seen the other dudes on your team Rudy. That's like saying you got hops just because you can clear a sheet of paper."

The two of them began their own full on pillow fight as they started swinging at each other with everything that they had.

Jason laughed "Alright guys that's enough messing around. You should probably join me and Kyle and watch some film considering how much you guys were messing up at practice."

- - -

After another full day of practice it was about seven at night when the boys began to leave. As soon as they walked out the door they were greeted by a massive group of fans.

"Ay yo it's Amarion!" "Yo King ah New York!" "Ay MG! Over here bro! You the best!" "Golden Oaks!" "Central Park! Can I snap a picture right quick!?"

It took a few minutes but Nike's security was soon able to calm things down as they made a wall separating the boys from the fans.

As Jason was standing waiting for their van to arrive Marvin walked up to him and smiled. He dapped him up "Killed it again bruh. Ima get you tomorrow tho."

Jason chuckled as the two of them finished dapping each other up "You keep telling yourself that MG. You getting good but you still ain't that good."

All of the guys from Golden Oaks said their goodbyes to Jason before getting into their van. Even Monty came up to Jason.

He didn't say anything but he stuck his fist out toward Jason. Jason didn't say anything either as he simply bumped Monty's fist back with his own.

It was only then that Monty said something "Good practice dog." Jason nodded his head "You too Monty."

The boys from Texas got on the van first after it arrived. Jason was the last one to get on as he tried to take a couple pictures and give out a few autographs to his fans.

He would have taken the time to interact with his fans more but he didn't want to make the other guys wait for him.

Just as he was about to step on to the van he felt someone grab on to the sleeve of his hoodie. He turned around and was surprised to see that it was a dude.

He had gotten used to female fans doing things like grabbing on to his arm or holding on to his sleeve but he had never had a male fan do the same.

A cold shiver traveled up his arm as he tried to put on a polite smile "Sorry bro, normally I would love to take the time to snap a couple pictures but we really need to go."

The guy then looked at Jason and gave a weird smile. The way that he looked at Jason made it feel as though he were more than just a fan.

"That's okay. A picture would have been cool but that's not why I came here. I know that you're in a hurry but if you could just give me your phone num-"

As soon as he heard what the guy had to say Jason pulled himself away from the guy before diving into the van.

"Ay start driving Rob! Pedal to the metal!" Before Jason could pull the door closed a hand reached in from outside to keep it open.

Then the guys face popped into the van "Wait! I'm not a crazy fan or a stalker I'm just-!" Before he could finish what he was saying Jason began to kick at his hand as he held on to the inside of the door.

As he was kicking Jason turned to Kyle "Kyle go call Nike and tell them to bring back security! We got a pyscho over here!"

Kyle nodded his head before pulling out his phone. Just as he was about to start dialing the guy started yelling out "I think we might be related!"