Nick Abbott and Trent Dawson have nothing in common but basketball. Or so it seems. But as the basketball season progresses, their lives become unexpectedly intertwined. In this coming-of-age story of an unlikely bond, award-winning author Carl Deuker explores that dark and confusing place between loneliness and friendship, between faithfulness and betrayal. Filled with gripping game play, this YA basketball novel will leave readers wondering how much they themselves would reach out to a kid like Trent.

• Rivals on the Court: Nick is dedicated. Trent is dangerously unpredictable. When the troubled kid from across the street becomes his biggest competition, the tension is about more than just a game.
• A Complicated Friendship: As their lives become intertwined, Nick and Trent must navigate the gray area between loyalty and betrayal, learning who they can trust when everything is on the line.
• High-Stakes Basketball Action: Filled with authentic, play-by-play game sequences, this story captures the breathless energy of high school sports and the pressure of the final shot.
• Navigating a Family’s Divorce: While fighting for his spot on the varsity team, Nick must also deal with the fallout of his parents’ painful separation and a family breaking apart.