The Story: Ryan, Zeke, Eli, and Miles are four close friends who will soon be trying out for their school basketball team. They’re not great, but they’re not slouches either. Basketball is their life. When they are not playing basketball, they are hanging out in Ryan’s basement trying to figure out their chances of making the team. Tryouts aren’t going to be easy. What if they all don’t make the team?

The History: Michael Jordan didn’t make the varsity team the first time he tried out, but he didn’t get discouraged. He kept playing. Another basketball great—Bill Russell—had trouble making his high school team.

Used by permission of Fred Bowen