Ambition — Sam Truman

[beast10]

Ambition — Sam Truman

Any feedback or suggestion? This has had a slow start and idk if it's just because this is bad or if people aren't seeing/reading it.

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[beast10]

Re: Ambition — Sam Truman

April 25th, 2008



I think I had transitioned well from the school season up until now.

I found myself in Sacramento along with the rest of the Indiana Spiece. We were participating in the first season of the Nike EYBL. Coach had pretty much been preparing us for this for each and every practice, quoting it would be the highest level of competition in high school basketball.

At times I wondered if I was actually ready for it. I mean; we had Tyler, Walter, and Angel. These guys were going off to UNC, OSU, and Memphis. Could I possibly be categorized with them?, could I actually compete against guys like Brandon Jennings?

That was the last thing I wanted to think about however. I had to realize that I was on this team for a reason.

We all just talked about some unrelated basketball stuff as we chilled in the lounge of the hotel after coach had wrapped up with his prep talk about our first game tomorrow against this in from Massachusetts.

"I'm about to cut out guys," I say as a let out a yawn. "See you guys in the morning. Let's be ready to get the win."

Other joined me in leaving which lead to everyone going off to their rooms and calling it a night for us.

Then once there, I laid in bed and like always I thought about the future … Everything had gone smooth this year; I was named an all conference player, grades were great, and I had people who supporting me. Just felt like something was missing, I just didn't know what I was though …

It was around 1:00 in the morning and I couldn't keep my eyes shut. I grabbed my ball and headed to the elevator, set it to floor level one and hit the gym.

I was surprised to see I wasn't alone. Inside was a dude who looked about my age with a point guard frame similar to mine, he was aggressively working alone in the gym. I could tell he was here for the EYBL too.

At first I didn't speak, I just came in and launched a three pointer from the corner but once the ball bounced in a result of it hitting the bottom of the net he turned around, guess he didn't know I was there.

"Hey what's up?," he begins to walk in my direction and reaches out for a casual shake.

"What's up, I'm Sam." We slash hands before gripping and letting go.

"That's what's up, I'm Kemba, you here for the EYBL?"

"Yeah I'm from the Spiece. How about you?"

"Cool, cool. I'm on the Guachos. Heard a lot about the Spiece you guys are the best in the Midwest right?"

"Somewhere around there. Not trying to brag but we ****ed some teams up in the tournaments around the state."

Kemba laughs and looks down as he dribbles the ball. "That's cool. You know we're coming for that spot though, right?"

"Hey everybody is in the Midwest. Join the party, it's some competition around here, you ready for it?"

"I'm a competitor, I'm ready for whatever," he says confidentially. "… Hey you want to play one on one before I get back to my room. See what you got?"

"Sure."

In what started out as a game where we were just shooting jumpers with little defense turned into an all out playoff type of one on one game. We were going hard as ever, but that's when I realized how good he was.

After creating some space on a step back, Kemba went up to contest but I hadn't stopped my dribble. I drove to the basket but missed the layup as he had blocked it from behind but also had hit me upside my head.

"Foul, my ball." I say as I walk back up to the top of the key.

"**** outta here, you're playing bitchetball. That's gonna get you a spot on a YMCA pick up game, check the ball." He walked behind me and threw the ball to me.

"Whatever dude." I bounced the ball back to him and he attacked right off the bat and hit me with a double cross before hitting a floater in the paint.

---

"Good luck tomorrow bro. I'm not tryin' to be rude or whatever but you better not come into this tournament with that soft **** or because you'll get eaten out there …" Kemba tosses me my ball and gets his stuff from the one row set of bleachers. "You got a shot, I'll give you that, but everybody got good defense too."

I felt as if I was a kid listening to him, but I wasn't, we were the same age. "Thanks for the advice, good luck to you too."

I walked to the elevator in disgrace, this dude had just beaten me 21-11. If this was what I would be expecting from every team then he was right. I lost a burst of confidence as I got back to the room and finally got to sleep at around 3:30.


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[beast10]

Ambition — Sam Truman

April 26th, 2008



Today we were playing our first game at at 3:30. We had to report to the facility by 9:00 so we were up early traveling here.

Inside was plastered with "ROAD TO THE PEACH JAM" with Nike affiliation all over the place along with media, and at least 500 other kids who's team all competed for the one trophy at the end.

"We're ready for this." Tyler breaks the silence between us.

"You already know." Walter adds.

We reported to the middle of the facility along with all 30 other teams participating in the event for an introduction to the program by founder Kevin Foley as he gave a complete run down of the event's mission. He, like coach, says that this is the highest level of high school ball.

"Play ball," he says in conclusion. "The complete weekend schedule is amongst the televisions and is at the front desk with your court locations and times. Officials will get you guys started once there."

Like I said, we were up at 4:30 and it was only about 8:45 so we had some time to chill and scout the competition with coach.

We first watched the Oakland Soldiers, the team that had Brandon Jennings, the same person I was pondering about the other day.

His team had dethroned the Mac Irvin Fire 74-58 and Jennings had 29.

A little more time passed, we watched a couple more games, then before we knew it was time to take the floor on court five.



I looked down to my feet, I was wearing the the LeBron Peach Jam's that only a limited quantity were made for the event, I had the shoes to represent it but the question was if I actually could be the point guard that actually helps get us to it …

I got into position for the tip off, I had never been this agitated in my life. I referenced to Michael Jordan's rookie year quote of just doing anything out of the ordinary but I [/i]needed[/i] to do something out of the ordinary if I wanted to distinguish myself from everyone else and rack up on some quality scholarships …

I looked in the crowd that all stationed around the court as anticipated to watch as we were to play, it was easy spotting all the coaches amongst them, then I saw Bill Self - the coach of the NCAA national champions. This was serious.

I was trapped, not knowing which direction to go to.

Tyler won the tipoff and I was handed the ball by Angel.



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[beast10]

Re: Ambition — Sam Truman

April 26th, 2008



This one had came down to the last shot, 80-77, Angel rolled the ball to me from the baseline and I let it continue until I reached the half court mark where I picked it up and made my move.

With 2.6 left in regulation there wasn't much I could do. My shot was off this game but I had to do something. I took a quick hesitation and sprang into a tear drop three pointer that would send the game into overtime.

But it didn't, the shot hit the back part of the rim and came flying towards the middle of the lane.

"Damn …" I threw my hand through the air and walked around with no destination as my teammates came to cheer me up.

"Can't make them all," coach Hollins says to me with a slap on the back then addresses the entire team. "We've got to regroup, and play smarter. I told you guys this wasn't going to be a piece of cake, doesn't matter who we have on our team. We've gotta play better. It'll be different later and it better be because they're fresh off a 79-53 win against Team Florida and I'd be damned if we went back to that hotel 0-2."

"Alright let's go guys! Recover, and attack next game. This is ours!" Walter says in an effort to boost us. He led the team with 20 in the lost.

I went to my bag expecting to see a text message from dad, he said he was watching the game from a live stream.

(Dad) 3:32 - Saw the whole thing, that game winning miss is alright just put it in the past. But why were you playing so scared out there at first?
(Me) 3:48 - well to be honest I kind of was. When I got that dunk I got hyped though so that's when I started getting more into the game but I just couldn't hit anything.
(Dad) 3:51 - Well if you're playing afraid then of course you're not going to get anything to go, if you play afraid you might as well come back to indiana.
(Me) 3:54 - I know but like I said it's different, better players and better defense. Not at all like it was in Brownsburg.
(Dad) 3:56 - I don't care and neither should you. Basketball is a sport and if you're good you're good, you've played on every level. all this is is new faces on the court. Shoot the ball, draw the foul, make the good pass. You're a good player so just play like it.
(Me) 3:59 - gotcha. We're playing team final next. Coach told us they won their last game by a huge blowout. I'll let u know how it goes.

I put my phone back inside the bag and went to meet back with the team but the path was intercepted as I saw Kemba.

He points at me with a smirk, "My man, what's up?"

"Just took a L, missed the tying shot and lost 80-77 … You were right about that stuff yesterday, I got killed by the guard from BABC, dropped 19 on me. Only good part about the game was that I got my first in game dunk ever."

"I told you G. This not easy but you're not alone we just lost two straight. I was putting in the work but was the only one doing so: hit 19 against The Family then had to go against Byron Mullins and we got our asses beat by 12, I had 17. But you dunked?, on somebody or just on a break?"

"Damn that sucks, but we were on the break and Tyler threw the outlet and that dude Kim English was the only one back on defense and I didn't want to get it blocked so I just slammed it. We play you guys tomorrow though, right?"

"Oh cool that's what's up. I heard Kim English had a clip … But yeah we play y'all. You better be prepared, I'm putting in straight work against you."

"We'll see who gets the last laugh. I gotta worry about Team Final for now, heard just beat Team Florida bad."

"Yeah that's Tyreke's team, good luck bro."

"Evans?, the top prospect?"

"Yeah, good luck. You'll need it."

"Thanks …"





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[beast10]

Ambition — Sam Truman

Might discontinue this as it seems I have no full time followers. Been busy with basketball and now making friends around my new area so I'm not really @ home a lot and haven't played my Xbox since the last update.

But I'm still interested in these dynasties and will try to get my Michael Kane one back up as soon as I get college hoops again, and I also might try to make something new.


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[dodar]

Re: Ambition — Sam Truman

I was enjoying this but I'll be happy with any dynasty you mske

[AdamJones113]

Re: Ambition — Sam Truman

Same, I'm liking it a lot though so keep it up if you want!

[beast10]

Re: Ambition — Sam Truman

I was enjoying this but I'll be happy with any dynasty you mske

Same, I'm liking it a lot though so keep it up if you want!

cool glad i had some silent followers. im currently in the process of making a new dynasty and i'm 9 chapters into it but im not going to post until i get far in it because i don't want to become uninterested in it and cut it off . . .
i'm probably going to revive michael kane before i bring this back

might as well throw the idea of it out there; basically the main character is the athlete's dad and also a newly coach for another school. It's focused on his life but his life is basically developing his son to continue his legacy he made back when he was in high school, the issue is that his son is clearly not at the level that his father once was at. plenty of other details in the plot and i hope you all will enjoy it when i start posting it; will probably wait until he get into his junior year.

[dodar]

Re: Ambition — Sam Truman

sounds good!

[Son of Sam99]

Re: Ambition — Sam Truman

Just found this, glad to see someone else doing a MyPlayer type story. Keep up the good work.

[beast10]

Re: Ambition — Sam Truman

Just found this, glad to see someone else doing a MyPlayer type story. Keep up the good work.

Yeah I've been doing these for awhile now. Really fun and more interesting to me but this one is kind of dead right now. Idk I might bring it back though because I found it interesting but I never got any feedback but it appears I had some silents so I'm considering it

[beast10]

Re: Ambition — Sam Truman

May 25th, 2008


Good games didn’t come to me very often in the EYBL Circuit and with that being said, I basically left empty handed with only one additional scholarship added from Valparaiso.

Valpo slid in with my other two offers from Ball State and IUPUI. Miami and Purdue had reluctantly backed off me after they did their background checks and gained knowledge about my incident at the party when I got arrested a while back. My dad was pissed off about that, he really wanted me to go to Purdue because they provided the best competition with them being a member of the Big Ten so when I told him about the situation he demanded me to write an entire letter to the athletic faculty at Purdue explaining how good of a person and student I am – and I was actually in fact a very good person. I never got a response as expected; they just went on to sign another point guard.

My options were now slim and I didn’t like it. Coach Hunter loved me at IUPUI but that school wasn’t at all academically prestigious and that was key to me because chances were low that I'd actually be able to continue my playing career beyond college... Ball State was a little better but still had the same issue. Valpo was at the top of the stout list, they invited me to the campus mid-way through the Circuit and it was actually alright, they were a small but diverse private institution that specialized in my major of Law which was great.

With that being said, Valparaiso was seriously becoming the ideal spot for me, another positive about them was that they were just over two hours away from my home in Brownsburg which was best in my interest since I wouldn’t be able to leave the state for college like I had always wanted.

So after a couple of weeks of weighing my options I finally decided on where I’d be attending. Gordon had made his decision during the time period as well so the school set up an assembly for us to announce our commitments to the public. I went ahead and signed my letter of intent with Valparaiso while Gordon who sat next to me signed with Butler.

[beast10]

Re: Ambition — Sam Truman

July 28th, 2008


They say they’re no days off in the off-season and that’s exactly how my summer went. Despite not even being around, my dad had been harder on me than ever. He had me set up for training with Coach Witherspoon nearly every single day available. I understood that playing D-1 basketball wasn’t going to be easy by any means and all but it was seriously ridiculous on how hard he forced me to work on the near daily basis. I was just a normal kid, I wanted to spend time with my friends before we all left for college but barely did I ever get the opportunity to do so even with my mom complaining on my side. My dad was just all about ball, ball, and ball.

Speaking of my friends, Julia had signed with North Carolina on a basketball scholarship while all the others stayed local with typical selections like Indiana, Purdue, and Butler then there were some guys who stretched out to bordering states of Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, and Illinois. I quickly learned that I was just one of three people from the Brownsburg senior class that would be attending Valpo.

But back to my dad, he seemed to have wanted me to succeed more than anybody in the world, I don’t know why, but I guess if I had to take any positives out of this long and stressful summer it would have to be that I was on the path of doing great things on the court for the Crusaders this year.

For now, all I had on the menu was packing. Fall was quickly approaching and my last days in town were going by. My room had been stripped and most of my belongings were now in suitcases while all my old stuff like the youth league trophies remained on the dressers for memories.

I was just about ready to move into the next stage of my life; college.

[beast10]

Re: Ambition — Sam Truman

Alright so this was a weird bump after almost ten months lol. I wanted to bring this back in a temporary player dynasty in replacement for Kendall Jenkins until I get the new console

[beast10]

Re: Ambition — Sam Truman