"CAMPBELL! GET YOUR HEAD IN THE GAME!" Coach Harris yells at me as I miss another mid-range shot. I sigh as I go under the basket to rebound the ball. I could've made that shot. Why didn't I? Shaking my head in frustration, I grab the ball with anger and chuck it to the next player behind me.

Josh seems a little shocked when I do this but my attention isn't on him anymore. It's on myself. I run to the back of the line for another attempt at this drill and I see Jason not too far ahead from me. He then gets out of line to come toward me and cuts in front of me. "Hey, Will. Take everything out of your mind that's bothering you and focus on this drill. You can worry about everything later," he says as he puts a hand on my shoulder.

"I'm trying, Jason. I'm really trying but this is really getting into my head now and I hate it," I reply as I rub my face in frustration.

"Do you want Coach to make us stay longer in the gym to do more conditioning or do you want to leave early and possibly deal with your problems in a more orderly fashion?" I grumble as I know what the obvious answer is. "Now, just make a shot so Coach will let us go early. You're the captain after all."

And somehow, I wish I didn't take the role of captain after winning last year's CIF title. This gives me a flashback to when Thomas Candor, the previous team captain, and I were sitting on the bleachers, watching the girl's basketball team practicing. "Hey, Will," he says to catch my attention as I am on my phone, texting Beth.

"Yeah?" I ask as I place my phone facing down to look at him. His brown eyes travel all over the place until he lands on mine.

"You know I'm graduating in a month right? And the whole team unanimously voted for you to become the captain."

I gulp as reality hits me again. "R-Really? I don't think I'm up for it, Tom. I'm only just a sophomore and I can barely do anything else but play let alone lead a team."

He laughs as he pats my back to comfort me. "I thought of the same exact thing when I was voted to become captain. Although it's hard work, it'll change you for the better, Will. Believe me. You will have the confidence in everything that you do and you'll just feel like you could do anything without anyone stopping you. But besides that, the team also needs you. That's why they chose you in the first place," he elaborates.

"Do you think I'm up for it?" I repeat as I twiddle my fingers in anxiety.

"Nobody's ready for this kind of journey. But the fun part about it is that you can experience everything first-hand. I'll be here if you need me. Just text or call me and we can talk. You're not alone in this, Will."

You're not alone in this. His voice echos in my mind as I realize that it's almost my turn to run the drill as Jason's almost done with his. I close my eyes and take a deep breath in. You will have the confidence in everything that you do and you'll just feel like you could do anything without anyone stopping you.

I reopen my eyes again and feel a boost of energy course through my veins as I am determined to finish this drill once and for all. Sprinting toward the block at the right side of the court, I v-cut to the right of the three-point arc, but stop right in front of it to take a mid-range shot. I have my hands open to catch the basketball from Jason's chest pass and he does just that.

Catching the ball swiftly, I bend my knees slightly as I slowly push the ball up with my hands while releasing it out of grasp. The arc and power of the shot seem alright and I slowly watch the ball soar through the air. I grit my teeth as I run toward the basket just in case it doesn't go into the basket.

But, the basketball ends up swishing into the basket as it enters the rim. I breathe out a sigh of relief as the ball drops into my hands and throw it to the next person behind me. Running to the opposite line, I see Jason once again.

He gives me a small smile as he reassures, "See? It wasn't that bad, was it?"

I roll my eyes playfully. "Sure sure. Ok," I say.

About an hour later, I am drenched in my sweat as I am running along the baselines for conditioning. "Push it through!" my coach says as he's clapping. My breathing is starting to deepen as it's getting heavier and heavier. Jesus, conditioning is really a pain in the ass. Once I cross the opposite baseline, I stop and lean my head on the wall in comfort.

"Finally!" I scream as I slap the wall. As the players behind me start trickling in, I walk over to Coach Harris as he is scribbling something on his whiteboard. Placing my hands on my knees to take a breather, he notices me standing in front of me. "Will, don't forget to talk to me after practice, okay?" he asks as he studies me with his gray eyes.

I nod in acknowledgment as I am not able to say anything just yet. "Bring it in, guys!" Coach says again and I stand back up. Once everyone's standing around him, he starts talking, "You know that season's coming so we need to give everything we got in these practices so it'll be easier for us in the games. Every suicide, every shot, every sprint means something and if you don't put meaning into them, then might as well leave.

"CIF's are also coming up and we will use these friendly matchups with the neighboring high schools as a way for us to prepare for what's to come. Don't you guys want to defend your championship and become back-to-back-to-back champions?"

There's a bunch of shouting of approval from behind me and Coach Harris takes it as an answer. "Then we have to prepare for the worst and win another one!" he continues as he gets us hyped up. "But it doesn't mean it's going to be an easy journey. Last year, it was too close as the score was fifty-five to fifty-seven and we need to distance ourselves from our opponents. So take these practices with meaning so we can win a third title in a row. Will, close it out will you?"

I step toward the middle while Coach leaves the circle of sweaty players. Taking a deep breath in, I say, "You heard what Coach said. Do y'all want to win a third title?" There are more shouts of approval as I look at them. "Then play like it! Champions on three!" I put my hand in the middle and the players around me also do so. "One, Two, Three!"

"CHAMPIONS!" We all say simultaneously and we later scatter toward the bleachers.

Remembering what my coach told me before, I walk toward him as I wipe the sweat on my forehead with my jersey. "Coach, was there anything you wanted to talk to me about?" I ask as I approach him.

He lifts his gaze onto me and brings his whiteboard to his side. "Yes, there was actually. Will, I have been noticing that your basketball performance has downgraded lately. Has anything been going on at home or school that's bothering you in any way?" he inquires.

I bite my jersey as I avoid his gaze. There's no way he would understand what I am going through with my studies and Ashley. I can't possibly tell him this. "W-Well, I've been focusing more on my studies lately as it is junior year and that might be the reason why."

He nods his head slowly. "Although I don't want to pressure you into thinking about the future, there's another CIF title that's on the way after winter break and I don't want you to lose your touch. You mustn't be distracted if you want to win another title. I can't force you guys to win one, but I'm pretty sure you know what's at stake."

I nod quickly. "I understand, Coach. I will try to get back on track as quickly as possible. But I just want you to understand that I am trying to focus more on my studies as it is also important to do so."

"I understand, Will. Just know that you have to figure out how to balance the two out. If you can't do it well, then it's better if you just focus on your studies than play. It's as easy as that."