No Slam Dunk

There's a phrase to describe the challenges of playing basketball on a team full of stars: There''s only one ball.

When two young hoop stars -- friends and friendly rivals for years -- begin facing the trappings of privilege that come hand in hand with early recruiting and fame, the fact remains: There''s only one ball.

Miguel Dinero wants to dominate on the court because he''s heard his whole life that it''s his destiny. The country''s #1 pre-varsity recruit with a pre-written path all the way to the NBA, rendering everything else, such as school, secondary. He expects the ball in his hand at crunch time, expects the spotlight, expects to win.

Wes, on the other hand, NEEDS all of this. For him, success in basketball, becoming the player his dad told him to be before dad shipped out to serve in the military, is a mission. No one on the court takes the game as seriously as Wes.

Both kids, friends and friendly rivals for years, are ready to take over the team. The problem? There''s only one ball.

A middle-grade version of the storyline from the past few NBA seasons, with superstars teaming up with other superstars.

Praise for Mike Lupica:

-"Lupica is the greatest sports writer for middle school readers."--VOYA on True Legend