Foul Trouble

When Danny, Terrell, and Danny’s dad arrive at camp, a host of reporters and fans crowd the group of boys, which includes “the Dudes”—five boys with whom Terrell plays casual games of basketball. Everyone showers attention on Terrell and ignores Danny. Danny is angered at being left out, but he grits his teeth and endures the situation. When the boys finally reach the locker room, Terrell and Danny meet their team, the Rebels.

Danny and Terrell’s teammates like Terrell immensely but assume that Danny is only on the team because his dad is the coach. The Rebels’ first game is against a team that has a player named Omar Whytlaw. Omar is just as skilled a player as Terrell, and the game becomes a contest between the two players. Danny fights with Jay Swanson, another kid on his team, and they are both benched in punishment. At the end of the game, Terrell throws the winning shot.

After the game, Omar and Terrell shake hands and go their separate ways. Terrell, Danny, and Danny’s dad are then pulled into a press conference. All the questions go to Terrell, except for one about Danny’s fight with Swanson. The reporters also ask whether Danny gets preferential treatment from his father. Terrell gives vague answers about his college plans and his future in basketball, which frustrates the reporters. Afterward, Terrell, Danny, and Danny’s dad chat with Tom Konchalski, a legendary basketball scout who gets paid to give his honest opinions about high school basketball. Konchalski offers Danny and Terrell advice on improving their performance on the court. Danny is surprised and grateful to be included, and he is also amazed that someone is offering Terrell advice instead of gushing about his basketball skills. Konchalski tells the boys to expect hounding and excessive attention after Terrell’s win. Terrell admits that he is scared, and Konchalski says, “You should be” (43).

Later at the hotel, Terrell is cornered by a representative from Athena, a company that makes sports gear. This representative is much more insistent than other people have been so far.

The next day, Danny and Terrell’s team easily wins their first game. Afterward, Terrell is cornered by the press. Danny’s dad moves to ensure that Terrell isn’t becoming overwhelmed, and as Danny goes to shower, he marvels at the frenzy of activity around Terrell.

Danny meets Alex Mayor, a down-to-earth boy who is being heavily recruited by various representatives. Later, neither Danny nor his dad can find Terrell. When Danny calls Terrell, Danny’s dad asks him to pass along the warning that he will pull Terrell from that night’s game if Terrell does not show up. Danny refuses to say this because he will not discipline his teammates for his dad. Terrell is with the Dudes and someone who works for a recruiter; he tells Danny that he will return later. Before Danny can argue, Terrell hangs up, leaving Danny anxious.

The Dudes were the first people that Terrell met when he moved to Danny’s town. Although the Dudes do not like Danny, Terrell tries to keep the peace. Now, the recruiter’s employee invites Terrell and the Dudes to a party, where Terrell finds girls in bikinis and sees people passing marijuana around. Terrell smokes a few joints and gets back to his hotel an hour later than he planned, feeling woozy.

Danny tries to help Terrell cover up his activities, but Danny’s dad figures it out and benches both boys for their afternoon game, punishing Terrell for his rash actions and Danny for trying to hide them. When Terrell argues that he cannot miss the game because people are there to see him, Danny’s dad lectures him on the difference between short-term and long-term goals. He says that Terrell needs to think about the decisions he makes now if he wants to succeed later. Danny’s dad knows what Terrell is going through because he has seen this situation before. Sympathetically, he tells Terrell to get some rest.