HugoMedeiros

1/10/14

Youdontknowthecollegesyougotacceptedtoyet?Brandonasked.

NoIwantedittobeasurprise.HopefullyBlackstoneannouncesittoday,IsaidasBrandon
shrugged.

HereIamatBlackstonewaitingtohearthenamesofthecollegesthatIvebeenacceptedto.
MorningMeetingwasabouttostartandIwasjumpingoutofmyseat.Likealways,Iignoredthe
ordinaryannouncementsbecausetheywereaboutthesamealmosteveryday.ThenIhearit,Kyleen
beginswithmyname.IamhappytoannouncethatHugohasbeenacceptedtoSyracuseUniversity
withafullscholarshipandalsoArizonaStateUniversity.
Thatbeautifulsentencefloodedmyearsbutmybraincouldntprocesstheinformation.Ihad
justgottenacceptedtotwoofthebestUniversitiesinthecountryforbasketball!Icouldntbelieveit.
Therestofthedaywasablur.Itconsistedofavarietyofdifferentdaydreamsaboutwhatmycollege
experiencewouldbelike.AllthepeopleIwouldmeetandalltheinformationIwouldlearn.Iwas
engulfedwithanamazingandwarmfeelinginsideme,thefeelingofsuccess.AfterschoolIgotaride
homefromBrandonbutthisridewasquietanddull.Ijustwantedtorunhomeandtellmyparentsabout
mybiggestaccomplishmentyet.Sureenough,Igothomeatasnailspacebutthewaitwasworthit.
Ifranticallysearchedformykeysandfoundthemunderapileofcandywrappersinmybag
causedbyawildsugarcravetheweekbefore.ThethoughtofcavitiesranthroughmymindbutIjust
shruggeditoff.IputthekeyintothelockandIturnedtheknobslowly.WhenIopenedthedoor,the
delicioussmellofdifferentcheesesblewinmyface.Mymomwasmakinglasagna,myfavorite.You
tooklongtogethome.Wewerewaitingforyoutoeatwithus.shesaid.
AllIcouldsaywas,Mom,forgetabouteverything.Todaywasthebestdayever.
MyfathercameupfromthebasementandIstartedtoexplainthecollegeacceptances.My
parentsandIautomaticallysatdownanddidresearchaboutbothuniversities.Syracusewasagreatfit
forbasketballandthescholarshipcertainlyhelpeditstandoutfromArizonaUniversity.Itonlytooka
fewminutestodecidethatSyracusewastherightfit.InjustacoupleofmonthsIwouldbeinNew
York,assimilatingintothetruecollegeexperience.Icouldntwait.
OnAugust27th,Ilefthometobeginmynewlife.ItwasthefirsttimeIeverlefthomeformore
thanaweek.Thecarwasfullofcardboardboxesthatweresofulltheywereimpossibletoclose.My
oldroomwasemptyandIcouldseethesadnessineveryoneseyes.Iwasexcited,butalsoscared.My
dadtookthecourtesytodrivemetoNewYorkandhelpmeunpackinmydorm.Whenwefinishedhe
justlookedatme.ItwasastrangelookthatIhadneverseeninmy18yearsoflivingwithhim.Itwasa
lookthatshowedsadnessbutalsopride.Wetalkedforabit,huggeditoutandheleft.Soonaftermy
newroommate,Kevin,whotoweredat65andpunishedthegroundwithhis250poundsofframe
camein.Iwasquitesurprisedatthesizeofthisguy.Iexpectedathickskulledmusclehead,buthe
actuallyturnedouttobeverydifferent.Forthenext3yearsIbecamebestfriendswithKevin.I
especiallyenjoyedlisteningtohisstories.Ilovedthecomplexityofhismindandhowgoodapersonhe
was.Welovedeachotherinabrotherkindofwaybuttherewasonemaininterestthatbroughtus
together.Webothlovedbasketball.
****
BasketballseasonwastwoweeksawayandKevinandIwereextremelypumpedup.We
wereinoursenioryearofcollegesowehadtomakethisseasoncount.Lastyearsteamlostbyfourin
theNCAAchampionshiptoArizonaState.Sometimesmychoiceshauntme.PerhapsArizonawould
havebeenabetterchoice.AllIknewisthatIwantedtogototheNBA.ItwasadreamofminesinceI
wasachildandIwoulddoanythingtomakeitcometrue.TryoutsweretwodaysawayandIwas
ready.
Startersincludedme,Kevin,MikeGrawson,JeffLager,andIsaiahFraz.Ifeltconfidentabout
thisteam.Ourteamhadbigguysandsmallones,butwealsopossessedavarietyofskillsthatcould
guaranteesuccess.Ouronebigproblemwasthatweallweredesperateforthesamething,the
spotlight.
OurfirstgamewasagainstWichitaState,theyweresupposedlyrivalsbutnobodygaveitmuch
thoughtbecausewejustwantedtoplaythegame.Isatinthelockerroomalonewhileeveryonewasout
onthecourtwarmingup.Ithoughtabouteverythingthatbroughtmehere.Thehardwork,dedication,
effort,sweatandtears.Ithoughtaboutmywonderfulparentsneverlettingmegiveup.Alltheemotions
werecomingtogetherandIwassoonabouttoblowlikeabagofpopcornthatwasplacedintothe
microwavefortoolong.IlosttrackoftimeandIwouldprobablyhavebeenlatetothegameifKevin
didntcomeandgetmeinthelockerroom.Iquicklytiedmylacesandtuckedinmyjersey.Ahh,
number23.Iloveit.Isaid.Itwastrue.ThatwasMichaelJordansnumberwhenheplayedwiththe
Bulls.IfelthonoredinawaybecauseIworethenumberofthebestbasketballplayerever.IfeltlikeI
hadtoplayuptoit.
Weendedupwinningthegamebyone.Thatwaswaytoocloseforcomfort.Whiletheseason
progressed,Istartednoticinghowgreedyeveryonewas.Sure,everyonewantedtomakeagreatplay
everygamebutthiswasgettingridiculous.Wewereaveraging19turnoversagame.Thatstatisticgave
ouropponentsahugeadvantagewithscoringanditgotthecrowdhypedupwhenwewereplayingon
theroad.Agroupof21and22yearoldmenwereasgreedyas5yearoldchildrenwiththeirtoys.Our
spiritwaslackingandwedidntdemonstrateanyeffort.Thisteamwascollapsingandmynumberone
dreamofgettingtotheNBAwascrumblingundermyfeet.Icouldntletthathappen,myfuture
dependedonit.
TwodayslateratournextpracticeIdecidedtotalktotheteamaboutourdilemma.
ConfrontingpeopleaboutproblemswasnevermystrongsuitbutIfiguredthatadifferencehadtobe
madeorwewouldallsuffergreatly.Mylittlespeechcoveredtheproblemthatmostofmyteammates
didntnoticeandwhatIhopedforthisteam.Thisteamhastochange.Wedonttryhardenoughand
wedontsweathardenough.Everygameweplay,wehaveturnoversandwearewalkingbackon
defense.Thateffortisntgoingtogetusanywhere.Wehavetoworkharder.Isaid.AfterIhad
finished,theteamclappedandeveryoneagreedtochange.EveryoneexceptforIsaiah.Isensedatype
ofnegativeenergyfromhimwhenhestoodup.Anattitudethatshowedangerandgreed.Aburningsoul
thatcouldnotbecontained.
Theseasonwasalmostoverandtheteamandweledthecollegebasketballscoreboards.We
finishedtheseasonwitharecordof40winsandthreelosses.Theonlythingthatstoodinourwaynow
wasthechampionshipandironically,weweregoingtofaceArizona.Again,mychoicescamebackto
me.AllmylifeIworriedifIwouldbesuccessful,ifIwouldbeabletosupportafamilyandbeproudof
myself.Iwasstressedout.IwaslayingaroundinmydormandKevinnoticedthatsomethingwas
wrong.Hewantedmetogetupandsmileagainsohetookoffcampusforthenight.Itwas1:00a.m.
andhecalledacabandsaidthathewasgoingtosurpriseme.Igotdressedandweleft.Notknowing
whereweweregoing,Idecidedtodresscasuallyinjeansandahoodie.Wewereatthedoorand
Kevinsaidthatheforgotsomethingbackinthedorm.Hetoldmetogooutsideandhewouldmeetme
thereinalittle.AssoonasIsteppedoutside,Ismelledsmokeinthefoggy,moistair.Beingthesonofa
barbecuejunkie,Iknewthatthesmellofsmokewasntfromacookout.Itwasthesmellofaburning
building.
Beadsofsweatfelldownmyfaceandmyheartbeatincreased.Itwasthegreatadrenaline
kickingin.MylegsstartedpumpingandIrantowardstheinvigoratingsmell.Ittookmeaboutthirty
secondstogettotheburningblacksadness.Theyearbefore,theuniversityaddedasciencelaboratory
thatwasseparatefromtheotherbuildings.InthisbuildingIheardascreamandthesoundofithaunted
me.ItwasthesoundofIsaiahsvoice.IpatteddownmypocketstofindmyphoneandIdialed911.I
threwitbackintomypocketwhileitwascalling,therewasnotimetowaste.Iopenedthedoorandthe
thickblacksmokeinstantlychokedme.Thescreamsofmyteammatecontinuedtoflowthroughtheair.
Therewasnowaytoseesomyonlychoicewastofollowthepainfulandexcruciatingscreams.Myfeet
feltsomethingonthegroundandIheardamoan.IfIhadntbeenfeelingmywayaroundtheroomI
wouldhaveprobablytrippedoverIsaiah,maybecausingmoreinjuriestohim.Mynaturalinstinctwasto
pickhimup.Ifadrenalinewasnotpumpingthroughmybody,Itwouldhaveprobablybeenan
impossibletask.IhadhimonmybackandIwaswalkingtothedoorwhenIheardacrackingnoise
aboveme.Ikneeleddown,droppedhimonthefloorandslidhimjustenoughtoreachtheoutside.Ifelt
asighofreliefbutalsofear.ThenextthingIknew,IwashitbysomethingonthebackofmyheadandI
wasontheground.Iwasondeathsdoorstep.
Myeyelidsfeltlikesomeonewaspullingdownonthemandnotlettingmeopenmyeyes.They
wereamazinglyheavy.WhenIcouldfinallygetmyeyesopen,thelightsblindedme.Myheadwas
poundingandithurttoeventhink.IlookedupandsawthatIwasinahospitalroom.Isawmyparents,
KevinandIsaiah.TheonlythingIhadthestrengthtosaywasWhatdayisit?Iwasoverlyworried
aboutthechampionshipsandIprayedthatIdidntmissit.TheyallansweredApril1st.Istillhadseven
daysuntilthechampionshipandIwantedtogetoutofthehospitalasfastaspossible.Myparentstold
methatIwouldhavetostayinthehospitalovernightbecauseIhadaminorconcussion.AllIcoulddo
wassigh.Iwasgettingtiredagainandeveryonesawthat.Theyallleft,butIsaiahwasthelastone.
WhenhewasleavinghequicklysaidIfyoueverneedanything,tellme.Ioweyoumylife.Heshutthe
doorandIlaidthere.Overthinkingasusual.
Leavingthehospitalwasarelief.Thewhiterooms,stalefood,andlonelinessweregettingtomy
head.IknewthatIhadtwoplacestogo.Mydormorthelaboratory.IfiguredthatIcouldgotoboth.I
decidedtowalktothelaboratoryfirst.Ididntaskforaridebecauseitwasntthatfarbutalsobecause
therewasnoneedtobotheranyone.Besides,Ineededsomealonetimetogetallmyemotionsout
beforethechampionship.Playingwhilethinkingaboutproblemsislikeplayingblindfolded,youbecome
unawareofwhatisgoingonaroundyou.WhenIarrivedatthesceneandsawthebuildingonthe
ground,Ialmoststartedcrying.ToknowthatIcouldhavediedreallyamazedme.Adrenalinecouldbe
deadlysometimes.
Fromthesky,thecampuswouldhaveprobablylookedlikeabigbasketball.Itwasgameday
andeveryonewassupportingtheirteambywearingtheschoolcolors.Itwas11:00amandtheteam
andIwerealreadyonthecourt.Therewasstillsevenhoursuntilthegamestartedbutwedecidedto
practice.Winorlose,thiswouldbeourlastgametogetherincollege.Ithinkthatthoughtscared
everyonebecauseplayingonelastgameherecouldmeansomethinggoodorbad.Wecouldeither
continuetosomethingbiggerliketheNBAorwecouldneverbeinthespotlightagain.Iwasntgoingto
takeanychances,thishadbemybestgameever.
Itwas5:40whenArizonaStatesteamarrived.IwasnevernervousbutwhenIsawthisteam,
itfrightenedme.Everybodywasbigandfast,adangerouscombination.Bothteamswerewarmingup
butIwasstillinthelockerroomasusual.Thistime,nobodyhadtocallme.ItightenedmyLebronsand
rubbedthemlikeamagicallamp,expectingonewish.Thewishofvictory.Ididntliketothinkofmyself
asasuperstarbutwhenIwalkedontothecourtthecrowdwentwild.Allthescreamsandchantscame
togetherandthearenasoundedlikeajet.Soonenough,everyonewouldbedeaf.Kevinhandedmea
ballandIfeltsomethingthatIneverfeltbefore.Everythingwentsilent.AllIwasfocusedonwasme
andtheball.Thefeelingofleatherrubbedonmyfingersandthesoundofeachbasketballhittingthe
floorhitmelikeabeautifulsong.Ifeltinfinite.
Itwastipoffandwegotthefirstpossession.ThecrowdwaselectricandsowasI.Seven
secondsintothegameandwealreadymadeourfirstplay.Isaiahwaswideopenforathreesohe
decidedtotakeit.HewasntmuchofashootersoIwasntsoconfidentonthisshot.Isawthatitwas
comingshortsoIrantothebasket.Icaughttheball,anddunkedit.Syracuse20.Istartednoticing
flawsintheopposingteamsdefense.Theyalwaysleftthemiddleofthepaintopenandtheyhadthe
sameguyonanyonethathadtheball.Mostofthetime,thatwouldbeamismatch.Istartedtellingmy
teamabouttheseflawsandwestartedscoringbutArizonacaughtonquickly.Itwastheclosestand
mostaggressivegameIhadeverplayedin.
Itwasthefourthquarterandweweretied,122122with20secondsleft.Bothteamswere
deliveringsolidplaysbutSyracusewasfatigued.Syracusehadtheballbuttheunexpectedhappened.
ArizonaspointguardstoletheballfromKevinandrantothebasket.Hefeltthepresenceofmeand
Kevinbehindhimsohedidntgoforthelayup.HepasseditbackandArizonaspowerforward
finishedtheplaywithanundertheleg360dunk.Thecrowdwentsilent.Therewerethreesecondsleft
andthecoachcalledatimeout.HeprovideduswiththenormalYouguyscandoit,butIknewwhat
Ihadtodo.IwalkeduptoIsaiahandtoldhimtopassmetheballassoonashetookitout.Thelook
hegavemeassuredmethathewasscaredbuthenodded.Heknewthatthiswasthefavorthathehad
promisedme.
Nobodyknewaboutmyplanexceptformeandhim.Whenhetooktheballout,thepoint
guardwasconfusedwhentheballdidntgetdeliveredtohishands.Itgotdeliveredtomine.Assoonas
theballtouchedmyhand,Ienteredmyzone.Myearsblockedoutallnoiseandmyeyesmadethe
playersarounddissapear.TheclocksloweddownandIsawanopenspotonthethreepointline.Iwas
Syracusesonlychancetowinthechampionship.Irantothethreepointlineandjumped.Theball
releasedoffthetipsofmyfingersandIwatcheditsoartowardstothebasket.Whentheballwashalf
wayintheair,thebackboardlitredtonotifytheplayersthatthegamewasover.WhenIwascoming
downfrommyjumpIleftthezoneandIsaweveryonesface.Alleyeswereontheball,allmouths
wereopen.Theballrippedthroughthenetandthecrowdexploded.SyracusewontheNCAA
Championship,125124.
****
FourmonthshadpastandIwassittinginaroomwiththebestbasketballplayersinthecountry
forthe2014NBADraft.Theyannouncedthattherewerefiveminutesuntiltheeventwouldstart.Itwas
thelongestfiveminutesofmylife.Thechairsthatweresuppliedforuswerecoveredinplasticlike
somethingyouwouldseeatyourgrandparentshouse.IwasneverknownforsittingstillsoIseemed
liketheloudestpersonthere.WhenthedresspantsIwaswearingrubbedontheplastic,itsoundedlike
aconstructionsite.Bylookingaroundatalltheannoyedfaces,IcouldtellIwasthemostlovedinthe
room.
Itwastimeforthebiggestmomentofmylife.IwaswhereIalwaysdreamedofbeing.David
Sternwasonthepodiumgettinghispapersready.IsawSternlookingaroundlikehewastryingtofind
someone.Ittookaboutthirtysecondsuntilhiseyesmetmine.Helookedatmeforawhile,smiledand
nodded.Iknewsomethinggoodwasgoingtohappen.
DavidSternopenedhismouth.WiththefirstpickintheNBADraft.TheOklahomaCity
ThunderselectHugoMedeirosofRhodeIslandandTheUniversityofSyracuse.Ijumpedup!Forall
mylifeIhaveworkedhardandthereIwas.IwasthefirstpickintheNBADraft!WhenIstoodupI
wasgreetedbyawomanthatdidntlookveryexcitedbecauseshehaddonethisforyears.Shegave
memyhatthathadmynewteamsnamewrittenboldlyonitandIwalkeduptomeetDavidStern.We
shookhandsandtookapicture.Isawmynameslideintothefirstofmanyslotsforthenightspicks.I
felthonored,butalsohappy.Afeelingthatcouldneverbetrulyexplained.Again,Ifeltinfinite.
Itwastheopeninggameforthe2021NBAseason.RussellWestbrookwasinjuredso
everyonewasworried.Startingaseasonwithaninjuredstarwasnevergoodnews.IexpectedReggie
JacksontosubinforhimbutReggiedidntshowup,itwasmyluckyday.Ichosenottosayanything,I
wantedtoseeifthecoachbelievedinmeandifhewasgoingtoputmein.Sureenough,Iwasstarting
inmyfirstprofessionalbasketballgamealongsideKevinDurant.IgrewupidolizingDurant.Hewasan
allaroundplayerandLebronsrival.Hewasmyhero.
WeweregoingtofacetheBobcats,theworstteamintheleague.Theplayerswerentbadbut
theteamhadnosenseofteamwork.Itwasbasicallyonemanshowingoffandtherestwatching.Iwas
goingtohaveanamazinggame.Iwantedtostarteverygame.Iwantedtoneversitbenchagain.
Bytheendofthefourthquarter,Iscoredthirtyninepoints,Ihadseventeenreboundsandseven
assists.IwasscoringlikeanAllStaralready.
Epilogue
IcontinuedmycareerwiththeThunderforfifteenyears.IwasnamedMVPfivetimes,ledmy
teamtofourchampionships,andwonthreegoldmedalsattheOlympics.Allmylifegoalswere
completeexceptforone.Toraiseafamily.MybabywasonthewayandIwasabouttogetmarried.
IvebeeneverywhereandIvedoneeverythingbutthiswasanewexperience.Anewadventurewas
abouttostartandIwasasreadyasever.

TheEnd.