Recruiting Woes

Texts, official visits, NIL deals, calls, dinners with mama, playing hoops out in the backyard. It was a busy schedule for Jamaal King. And he'd done well for himself. Two-time SEC runner up. Three trips to the NCAAs. But it felt like his program was on the edge of a precipice.

"What's wrong, baby?" Elizabeth asked. Between good healthy living, lots of good sex and careful plastic surgery, Elizabeth didn't look much older than when he'd met her, Jamaal thought. And he didn't have to share her, didn't have to resort to tricks to win. But this ...

"Our NIL budget ain't great. And if we can't compete ... we ain't gonna compete," he said, sighing heavily. "Five star brotha in town, Desean Leonard. Seven feet tall. Pterodactyl like wingspan. Brotha is built to play ball. Shit, I wish I was gifted at him. But big Blue is oneupping us again on the money. I don't know what the fuck to do."

But he knew what it would take. And so did Elizabeth.