championship single-handedly. His teammates had contributed just as much.
That’s why he’d gotten such a shock at the start of this season. He’d hurried eagerly into the gym. He expected to see a few
familiar faces from the previous year’s starting lineup. Instead, he learned that he was the only starter returning!
Art and Danny were both a year older and had moved up to the next division. Max had moved out of town. And Barry Streeter,
an outstanding forward, had been in a terrible car accident just the day before. He was seriously injured, possibly even crippled
for life.
Julian had been horrified to hear of the accident. He couldn’t imagine Barry lying in bed unable to move.
But he was also troubled by the fact that his new teammates seemed to expect him to shoulder the role of team leader. Being
the team leader would be great if they won games. But if they lost, he’d be blamed. When he saw how poorly the Tornadoes performed
that first practice, he knew he didn’t want that responsibility.
That’s when he started showing up late to practice, giving less than 100 percent on the court, and turning away whenever his
teammates tried to include him in activities outside of practice.
Then he visited Barry in the hospital. He started to complain about how lousy the team was and how he wasn’t sure he wanted
to be a part of it anymore. Barry listened for a few minutes and then asked him a simple question: “How’d you like to switch
places?”
The question humbled Julian. He realized Barry would’ve given
anything
to be on the court instead of in that hospital cot. From there on out, he had stopped taking basketball, and his teammates,
for granted, and started giving his all to the Tornadoes again—even after his father announced that they would be moving.
“Julian, you’re up!”
The call startled Julian back to the present. Cal was already dribbling the ball toward the hoop for his layup. Julian took
off at a fast trot. As he leaped to capture the rebound, something suddenly occurred to him.
This is the last time I’ll do this drill with these guys!
2
T
his is the last time…
That same phrase repeated itself in Julian’s mind when his teammates put their hands together before the game.
This is the last time I’ll yell for Tornadoes to win.
He thought it when he stood in the mid-court circle with Grady and Len, Mick and Terrell, for the opening tip-off.
This is the last time I’ll stand in this spot wearing this uniform.
But then that thought, and all others that didn’t have to do with the game, fled. It was time to play ball!
The Tornadoes were facing the Jets. Julian recognized the other center from last year. Back then, he’d had no trouble winning
the tip because he’d towered over his opponent.
But what a difference a year had made! He and the Jet now stood eye to eye, and unless he was wrong…
The kid has facial hair! Yikes!
The referee stepped into the circle and held a basketball between the two centers. He gave a blast on his whistle and tossed
the ball straight up.
Julian and the other center leaped, arms stretched high. For a split second, Julian thought the Jet was going to touch the
ball first. But somehow, he got his fingers on it and with a decisive tap, sent it zipping down to Grady’s waiting hands.
Grady dribbled forward. A Jet player shadowed him. Grady held out his left arm to shield the ball as he moved toward the right-side
baseline corner.
The Jet put on the pressure, pushing Grady farther to the sideline and away from the hoop. A few more steps and Grady would
wind up trapped in the corner!
But Grady surprised the Jet. He stopped short, still dribbling, threw a head-fake, and then passed the ball behind his back
to his other hand! Now dribbling lefty, he dashed back to the top of the key.
The Jet fell for the maneuver hook, line, and sinker. Grady, meanwhile, sent the ball to Mick, playing forward. Mick dribbled
into
That’s why he’d gotten such a shock at the start of this season. He’d hurried eagerly into the gym. He expected to see a few
familiar faces from the previous year’s starting lineup. Instead, he learned that he was the only starter returning!
Art and Danny were both a year older and had moved up to the next division. Max had moved out of town. And Barry Streeter,
an outstanding forward, had been in a terrible car accident just the day before. He was seriously injured, possibly even crippled
for life.
Julian had been horrified to hear of the accident. He couldn’t imagine Barry lying in bed unable to move.
But he was also troubled by the fact that his new teammates seemed to expect him to shoulder the role of team leader. Being
the team leader would be great if they won games. But if they lost, he’d be blamed. When he saw how poorly the Tornadoes performed
that first practice, he knew he didn’t want that responsibility.
That’s when he started showing up late to practice, giving less than 100 percent on the court, and turning away whenever his
teammates tried to include him in activities outside of practice.
Then he visited Barry in the hospital. He started to complain about how lousy the team was and how he wasn’t sure he wanted
to be a part of it anymore. Barry listened for a few minutes and then asked him a simple question: “How’d you like to switch
places?”
The question humbled Julian. He realized Barry would’ve given
anything
to be on the court instead of in that hospital cot. From there on out, he had stopped taking basketball, and his teammates,
for granted, and started giving his all to the Tornadoes again—even after his father announced that they would be moving.
“Julian, you’re up!”
The call startled Julian back to the present. Cal was already dribbling the ball toward the hoop for his layup. Julian took
off at a fast trot. As he leaped to capture the rebound, something suddenly occurred to him.
This is the last time I’ll do this drill with these guys!
2
T
his is the last time…
That same phrase repeated itself in Julian’s mind when his teammates put their hands together before the game.
This is the last time I’ll yell for Tornadoes to win.
He thought it when he stood in the mid-court circle with Grady and Len, Mick and Terrell, for the opening tip-off.
This is the last time I’ll stand in this spot wearing this uniform.
But then that thought, and all others that didn’t have to do with the game, fled. It was time to play ball!
The Tornadoes were facing the Jets. Julian recognized the other center from last year. Back then, he’d had no trouble winning
the tip because he’d towered over his opponent.
But what a difference a year had made! He and the Jet now stood eye to eye, and unless he was wrong…
The kid has facial hair! Yikes!
The referee stepped into the circle and held a basketball between the two centers. He gave a blast on his whistle and tossed
the ball straight up.
Julian and the other center leaped, arms stretched high. For a split second, Julian thought the Jet was going to touch the
ball first. But somehow, he got his fingers on it and with a decisive tap, sent it zipping down to Grady’s waiting hands.
Grady dribbled forward. A Jet player shadowed him. Grady held out his left arm to shield the ball as he moved toward the right-side
baseline corner.
The Jet put on the pressure, pushing Grady farther to the sideline and away from the hoop. A few more steps and Grady would
wind up trapped in the corner!
But Grady surprised the Jet. He stopped short, still dribbling, threw a head-fake, and then passed the ball behind his back
to his other hand! Now dribbling lefty, he dashed back to the top of the key.
The Jet fell for the maneuver hook, line, and sinker. Grady, meanwhile, sent the ball to Mick, playing forward. Mick dribbled
into
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