Story #36: God's Gift

God's Gift

It was that time of year again. The game everyone was waiting for. Psyched fans packed the stands, patiently waiting to watch the game and aggressively yell at others. It was the last game the Hawks could have all year. But for young Dejounte Jenkins, he knew his entire reputation would lie upon this game. Before we get into any real detail, Let me start from the beginning.

Dejounte was just your average high school student from Emerson High School in Kirkland, Washington. He would walk the halls to hear people yell,

"What up DJ! Ready for the big game tonight?"

"Oh man, you know I am," Dejounte would reply to them.

But Dejounte had a gift from God. He had the gift of playing basketball at a prestigious level. WIth his tall, lengthy frame of about 6'7", and weighing in at a buck eighty. Combined with the athletic abilities of John Wall, and the scoring ability of Kevin Durant, it made him a prime candidate as one of the top high school players in the nation. But little did Dejounte know, was that his world was about to be flipped upside down.

Early tuesday morning, Dejounte woke up for his regular morning practice. He showed on time, did his stretching, and did drills as normal. They divided up the A team and B team for team scrimmage. Dejounte lines up at the three point arch. He saw on opening towards the baseline. As he flew past his defender, he heard and felt a mean, popping sound in his ankle. Shortly after, he collapsed on the ground.

"Dang DJ! Are you alright?" his teammate Yustice asked.

"Yeah man, I'll be good," cautioned Dejounte.

As Dejounte tried to stand, he immediately fell back onto the ground. Everyone in the gym flocked towards him. He insisted that he could leave on his own, but later had to be helped carried off the court.

Later that morning, Dejounte and his mother went to the local hospital. There, he had x-rays taken of his foot.

"I'm sorry to have to tell you DJ," started the doctor, "But you've suffered a severe fracture in your left ankle. You will have to be out a couple of weeks"

Dejounte knew his team's hopes of a playoff run was among him, but with himself out, the team would not have a good chance of completing this task.

"How long to you think I'll be out, Doc?" Dejounte said

"Well, by the looks of these x-rays, it could be about 3 to 4 weeks"

The fear struck Dejounte. His mind started to race. He knew that this entire season was the most important. After all, it was his senior season. He had received college offers from smaller Division 1 schools such as Wake Forest, and St. Johns. He always envisioned playing for the big names. Duke, Wisconsin, Kentucky, Michigan State. He knew if he had won the state championship, his dreams would come true.

The next few weeks consisted of a bunch of nothing. Dejounte was on crutches for the time. He would go home, rest, ice, and do his school work. It killed him on the inside that he couldn't do what he loved. But before he knew it, the doctor had cleared him to get back on the court.

The Hawks had lost 7 of their last 13 games when Dejounte was out. Slowly letting their playoffs hopes slip away. When he heard the next game was against the Bulldogs, the toughest team in the state, he knew he had to go off.

Today was the day. Dejounte waited patiently in the locker room. Everyone was counting on this kid for this playoff run. His entire high school career was in jeopardy tonight. He knew that this was his moment. Many doubted he could play at the same level after his injury. But these people would be in for a rude awakening.

Dejounte would go off for 36 points in the 108-101 victory against the Bulldogs, advancing them to the playoffs. Dejounte and the Hawks would later go on to win the State Championship in Washington. Earning him a scholarship with UCLA, and eventually, a chance to enter the NBA. But that's another story for another time.