Chapter Two: The Talents They Threw Away

Chen Ye’s first attack came almost without warning. He lowered his body and exploded to the right, torn shoes shrieking against the floor. Lu shifted half a step and cut the ball cleanly away. It struck Chen’s knee and rolled into the dark. “All speed,” Lu said. Chen attacked eleven more times. Seven steals, three forced turnovers, then one spectacular behind-the-back move that carried him to the rim—where he moved too fast to stop and threw the ball against the side of the backboard. “The scouts were right,” he panted. “I’m useless.” “They called you undisciplined, not useless.” Lu drew three short lines on the floor with chalk. “Your first step is faster than anyone your age. Your second step is always trying to prove it.