Jason and the rest of the guys on the team were putting some cones on the court as they set up for the the next part of the tryouts.

As they were setting things up David turned to Sam "I'm happy that we made it past the first test but I still feel bad for Ben and Troy."

Sam shook his head "Don't feel bad about them. You were right, Jaya only cares about basketball. We might be the next to get eliminated.

The only thing you can do now is try your best and try to make the team. If at least one of us can make the team then we didn't transfer for nothing."

David nodded his head. As he looked at Jason and the other boys he couldn't help but sigh "I still can't believe Jaya got jumped.

You would think that everyone at Jefferson respects him for what he did for the school last year." Sam chuckled.

"If Jaya getting jumped made you think that he doesn't have any pull then you would be dead wrong David.

I heard a bunch of 7th graders talking about how they were planning something for the dudes that fought him and the other guys from the team.

I didn't learn much from the first day of school but one thing that I did learn was that the basketball team and especially Jaya are untouchable.

I heard that he even has some connections with the biggest thug in the area." David looked at Sam with a questioning look "Are you serious?"

Sam nodded his head "I was talking to some of guys yesterday and apparently Jaya is under the protection of the local gangs.

I know it's hard to believe because we went to a private school and we never had any exposure to that kind of stuff but they all sounded really serious when they were talking about it."

David was silent after hearing what Sam had to say. He smiled as he looked at David "Don't tell me you're scared?

If anything you should be excited bro. If we can make the team that will mean that we'll be untouchable.

Who would even dare to touch us? And if something does happen Jaya has some major backing. We won't have to worry about a thing."

Before David could respond Jason's voice yelled out "Alright guys! Pay attention! We'll be showing you how to run the next part and we're only going to show you once."

Matt started off in the right corner of the court before sprinting out to top of the perimeter. He then ran past a cone as though it were a player setting a screen.

Jason then threw a laser pass right to Matt's shooting pocket as he caught the ball and shot it in one fluid motion.

They watched as the ball flew in a high arc toward the basket. As they saw the ball swish through the net they couldn't help but gulp.

Despite going down some Jason's eye was still swollen. Seeing him throw such an accurate pass even with the impediment in his vision they couldn't help but look at him as though he were some sort of monster.

Jason then explained "You'll start off in the corner before sprinting out to the top of the perimeter. Then you'll run around the cone pretending that it's a teammate setting a screen for you.

After you get in to position the player that you're partnered up with will throw you a pass. After that all you have to do is shoot the ball. Then you guys switch.

Obviously it would be best if you can make the shot but the main thing we'll be looking at is your shooting form, passing, and how well you can run.

And before you get any funny ideas I'll say this right now. If we see any of you running slow to try and make the catch and shoot part easier it'll be an automatic elimination."

A few of the kids cursed in their mind as Jason's last words killed any thoughts they had of trying to pull a fast one.

Jason then walked around and had the boys trying out for the team pull a piece of paper from a box as he paired them up randomly.

After he was done he walked back to the side as the boys began to run the drill. As he was watching he felt his phone vibrate in his shorts.

As he kept his eyes on the court Jason answered "Hello?" Marcus' voice came from the other side "Yo what up Jaya."

Jason smiled "Not much. Just watching the guys tryout for the team. Why what's up?" Marcus chuckled.

"I know you said to forget about the shit that happened to you yesterday but I thought it would still be a good idea to have Amare talk with them boys."

Jason shook his head helplessly with a smile on his face "You didn't have to waste Amare's time like that bro.

They just a bunch of snot nosed kids." Marcus responded "Yeah but it wouldn't be a good look for me if someone under my name got touched up and I didn't do nothing.

And besides, I told Amare to just talk to em. It ain't like I put a couple bands on they head haha." Jason asked "So what happened?"

Marcus laughed "Turns out I didn't need to do all that. By the time Amare went to go look for em they was already gettin jumped."

Jason was surprised "By who?" Marcus was clearly amused "They was gettin jumped by a bunch of kids from your school. Hell, there were even some kids from a different middle school.

After they was done Amare went up to em and asked why they did that." Marcus laughed before continuing "Turn out that even without me you got hella pull.

Especially with middle schoolers in Riverside. They really look at you like a hero bro." Jason responded while keeping some mental notes of the drill.

"Well that's news to the both of us. Anything else? I'm pretty sure you wouldn't call me just for that."

Marcus' tone became serious "Yeah. I was just callin to make sure that yous cool. The media havin a field day with this story.

They talkin a whole lotta shit. Callin you and the other guys a bunch of thugs dressed up as hoopers. And I've seen some people calling for you to be suspended for the season."

Jason smirked "They can bitch all they want. All the videos show that we did that shit in self defense. The committee can't touch me."

Marcus responded "The committee might not be able to do anything but these clowns online will drag y'alls name through the mud."

Jason laughed "They been doing that shit all summer. If they want to try and get to me with that shit they barking up the wrong tree.

I don't give a fuck what they got to say about me. At the end of the day I'll be on the court whoopin some ass and getting buckets.

All they're gonna do by speaking my name is give me more air time." Jason could hear as Marcus clapped his hands and laughed.

"That's Young Buckets for you. Ain't nothing ever get to you huh?" Jason chuckled "You should know me by now Marcus.

The only things that get to me are the ball when I go for a steal and an assist when I make the pass." Marcus laughed "Alright man. I just called to let you know, peace."

After the phone call Jason went back to watching the boys run the drill. After thirty minutes all of the boys were done and Jason was discussing the results with Coach Swendel and the other boys on the team.

Jason looked at the list of applicants and took in to consideration the position that they were trying out for.

A lot of the boys failed because of their poor shooting form. The next aspect that failed a lot of them was their passing.

The only thing that they all did well was run. With a clipboard in his hands Jason walked around as he called the name of all the boys that had been eliminated that round.

David and Sam frowned as they heard their friends' names being called out one after the other. By the time Jason had finished there were only 40 boys left and they were the only ones left from their friend group.

After Jason and the rest of the boys finished clearing the cones from the court he walked up to the front of the remaining 40 boys.

He scanned the crowd and nodded his head "Congratulations to all of you still standing here. You are one step closer to joining the team.

We are down to the last part of tryouts for today. Depending on how well you all do we'll have the last test tomorrow."

Jason gave the boys a moment to enjoy their success before continuing "I hope that you all took the last drill as a chance to warm up.

Because for today's last portion of tryouts we'll have you run your hearts out. This last part will test your endurance, will, and heart."