Noah Bennett
The new coach did not smile.
That was the first thing I noticed. Not the clipboard. Not the whistle hanging from his neck. Just the way he stood at half court like the gym already belonged to him.
Adrian Cole. Thirty-seven. Hired two weeks ago after Coach Harmon got pushed out. Nobody on the team had practiced under him yet. We only had the photos from the athletic site and the rumors. Former point guard. Torn ACL that ended him early. Came from a mid-major that actually won games.
He looked taller in person. Broader in the shoulders. Dark hair cut short. Jaw that did not move much when he talked. His voice was low and clean. It did not need to get loud.
“Bennett. You’re late.”
I was not late. The clock on the wall said 5:58. Practice started at six.
I dropped my bag an
