Notes

Down by four, 1:16 on the clock. National Championship on the line. The moment any young basketball player dreamt of the minute they step foot on a waxed, wooden court to play ball. This was basketball, simply basketball, at it’s finest. Even if you could call yourself the best basketball player to ever commit to UK, there was no saying this moment would cross your path again. Unless, of course, you were someone like Lebron James or Kobe Bryant, who could get these moments almost every season. Although, at this moment, it wasn’t Lebron or Kobe, it was Troy Bolton. Son of Ollie Bolton, the best shooting guard to ever come out of the University of Kentucky. Now, Troy, in his final year apart of Kentucky, had his career moment in hand. One timeout left for the Wildcats, and a 39-0 season behind them. The Pursuit of Perfection for UK was finally coming to be.
*****
Troy was born for this moment. A championship game against their rivals, Duke University, and the ball in his hands with 54 seconds left on the clock. Driving to the lane, he dishes out a pass to his comrade, Chase McBain. Taking a shot, Chase hits the two-pointer with just :49 left in the game. 96-94, Duke. Ben Bell, Duke’s top prospect, is now dribbling the ball up the court. Troy guarding him with 42 seconds on the clock. Ben driving in, hitting a step-back teardrop, giving Duke the 4-point lead once again. Chase taking the ball up this time, calling for a screen with their center, Nate Blackfield. Troy coming up to get the ball, taking a long two and.. swish! 98-96, just like that, with Duke calling a timeout as 23 seconds remain on the clock. Troy looked into the stands as he walked over to his team and saw his father, smiling for his son. Knowing this moment meant more for his father then himself, as Ollie Bolton never did make it to the NBA. Focusing back on the team, Troy listened as Coach Okafor called for an isolation play for him. Timeout over with 15 seconds left, Blue Devils’ ball. All Ben Bell had to do was dribble and run down the clock.. but he did just the opposite. Ben, going on instinct, drove to the lane for a go-ahead layup, missing the shot with just 12 seconds left. Big Nate Blackfield getting the clutch rebound and throwing it to Troy, with Coach Okafor using his last time-out of the game right as Troy grasped the ball. Coach O reminding the team of the isolation play he wrote up for Troy and Ben, saying it was still their go-to play in the final few seconds. *tweet* Referee John Henderson calling that the last time-out of the championship game has expired, and the game must resume with a period of 10 seconds left. Chase inbounding the ball to Troy, then quickly bursting to the other side to set up the Iso play. Troy started to slowly walk to the other side of the court, knowing that the clock was ticking away. Then, with 4 seconds left to win or tie the game, Troy Bolton lit up. Running straight for the left baseline, he spun and hit a three-pointer with the buzzer sounding just as the ball lifted off of his fingertips. Falling down, everything now in slow motion for Troy Bolton. Ben striving to just tip the ball, Nate boxing out for the rebound, and Ollie Bolton in complete awe. Looking up at the hoop, Troy sees the NCAA official game basketball slowly hitting against the backboard and falling in to the net.. making his fallback three-point shot the game-winner.. for the championship.
*****
Champions. The new moniker for Kentucky’s very own Wildcat basketball team. Troy knowing he would never forget this moment.. his moment. Looking behind him, Troy saw his father run at him and give him one of those bear hugs only dad’s could give.
“You earned this moment Troy..!” Ollie said, tearing up in the process.
“Couldn’t of done it without you, Dad.” he replied, also shedding some tears.
Then , all of a sudden, Troy is picked up by a mass of fans and teammates, all shouting, “MVP! MVP! MVP!,” as the confetti rained down on the Oracle Arena.
*****
Driving home that night, Troy took a quick stop at Swifty’s, Kentucky’s signature diner. Soon after he sat down, Chase and Nate walked in.
“So here’s where the most popular kid in the country is hiding at the moment,” Chase laughed as he sat down with Troy. Nate and Chase both ordered a second dinner, but Troy went for apple pie with vanilla ice cream. It had felt good for Troy of just chill with his boys, having them remind him of how clutch he was about every 5 seconds. Troy knowing that he had finally brought a championship back to the Bolton house, the last time with his father winning one in 1989.
*****
The next day, Troy’s father had called him over for a talk.
“I’ve been wanting to speak with you Troy, about your future,” Ollie began.
“My future?,” Troy questioned, fazed.
“Yes, about the NBA and what lies ahead of you.. I’ve already gotten 3 calls and 6 emails from coaches and scouts wanting to talk to you and recruit.
“Oh, I understand.” Troy responded, knowing the tasks ahead.
“If you ever need my help Troy, ever, just tell me. I’m here for you.” his father stated, with assurance.
Troy began to walk away, thinking about what his father was saying. Coaches, General Managers, Scouts, and anyone who could recruit were all after players with talent. He had to keep his head in the game for him to land a lottery pick, and stay one. Walking to his closet, Troy put on his favorite Chicago Bulls hoodie and walked out to begin practicing.
“One thing for sure will get me drafted,” Troy thought, “My skill.”
*****
Frank Herowitz was one of the best, yet cockiest players in the NCAA to first declare to the NBA Draft. He had been a starter for the Wisconsin Badgers basketball team, and led them to the Final Four. Frank had wanted to meet with Troy to discuss business, whatever that meant. Although, Troy already knew the real reason Frank had wanted to talk with Troy.. to recruit. Frank had already been ‘bought’ by the Los Angeles Lakers with sneakers, cars, girls, and cold, hard cash. It had been banned to recruit players to their team before the Draft, but the NBA wasn’t exactly cracking down on that law.